A west Midlands Police officer was injured by an elderly man driving the wrong way down the M42.The police caught the offence on the motorway cameras and were also advised of the car going in the wrong direction by several other drivers calling in a spokesman said “Calls from alarmed members of the public also, started to flood in after the grey coloured Mitsubishi Colt was seen driving towards he M5, going the wrong way along the northbound carriageway.
“Officers from the Central Motorway Police Group were at the scene within four minutes and starting to put a rolling road block in place around junction five to stop the vehicle, the driver was stopped on the M5 near Droitwich a short time later and the 80 year old was transfered to hospital in relation to an existing medical condition.”
An Officer was injured once the car had been turned round to fact the correct way Chief Inspector Carl Flynn said “Our officers acted quickly and decisively to try and stop the motorist from posing a further threat to other road users and himself.”
“The nature of the man’s driving was of great cause for concern, and despite the road block the car was still driven erratically and dangerously in the wrong direction into stationary traffic.
“Our officers bravely intercepted the vehicle and spun the car so that it was then facing in the right direction. Unfortunately the vehicle then collided with a police officer, who was taken to hospital with minor injuries.
“After making further inquiries it appears the elderly gentleman was unwell and we will not investigate whether his condition played any part in these events.”

The cold weather looks set to stay for a few days yet the last few days have seen a serious of accident and there have been several severe weather warnings in place.
The advice is as usual from the various road safety organisations to take your time, plan well it may seem a bit over the top, but shoving a blanket, hat, scarf, gloves and some chocolate and water in the boot, could actually make you weep with joy if you get stuck or break down in the bitter cold.
We don’t do extremes well in the UK and if fairness why should we when all we get is a couple of days here and there, but we still get them so just a little thought and care won’t go amiss
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