Driver of HGV that crashed on Foregate Street 'unconscious'

Abbie Richards, of Malvern, said the woman jumped out of the lorry's path before they both rushed to the driver's aid finding him unconscious.

The driver was taken to Worcestershire Royal Hospital following Monday night's crash (November 28) in Foregate Street which brought the city centre to a standstill.

Miss Richards called 999 and police, ambulance crews and firefighters were at the scene near the junction with The Tything and Castle Street.

READ MORE: The Tything/Foregate Street/Castle Street junction in Worcester open

Miss Richards said she was shaken up by the crash: "It was not a nice thing to witness but thankfully I was there to phone for help as quickly as I did.

"It was all happening so quickly. I didn’t have time to think about what I needed to do next, I just did it.

"I’m just so glad that the lorry driver is doing okay and I just hope that he has a speedy recovery."

Miss Richards dropped her girlfriend off at work and was parked outside of Leaders estate agents on Foregate Street.

CRASH: Police and ambulance at the scene of the HGV crash in Foregate Street. (Image: Contributed)

She noticed cars driving around a stationary lorry on the road.

"All of a sudden the lorry started moving quite quickly into the bus lane and my initial thought was that the lorry was pulling over due to a problem with the vehicle.

"As the lorry wasn’t slowing down at all, it crashed straight into the building and lights and lampposts.

"While the lorry was hitting the lights and buildings, a lady was walking by a few feet in front of the lorry as it crashed and I saw her throw herself to the floor to get out of the way."

READ MORE: Foregate Street HGV lorry crash

Miss Richards said she made her way quickly to the other side of the road to call 999 and check the driver.

She said: "I opened the lorry door to see a man in the driver's seat unconscious.

"The lady and I made sure he was breathing and another man jumped into the lorry to hold the man's head upright to clear his airway.

"He had noticed that the man was very breathing very shallowly and was unconscious for about 10 minutes."

Miss Richards said police arrived shortly after, as well as the other emergency services, to regulate traffic.

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A spokesperson for West Midlands Ambulance Service said: "Two ambulances, a critical care car from the Midlands Air Ambulance base at Strensham and a paramedic officer attended.

"The driver of the HGV, a man was assessed before being conveyed to Worcestershire Royal Hospital for further precautionary checks."

The junction reopened this morning following vehicle recovery and a clear-up after the incident.