Bus narrowly avoids disaster on ice
AT least five cars and a delivery van became victims of black ice on a Wear Valley road this week (Jan 15 edition) and a young boy was injured after a bus hit a house.
Cynthia and Jeff Knight had a lucky escape as an old gas lamp acted as a buffer between their home in Etherley and an Arriva bus on Wednesday morning.
Police said a young boy, who was a passenger, suffered minor injuries but no-one was seriously hurt after the bus skidded on black ice.
But the wall was dented, the house’s front window was shattered and the old lamp smashed.
Mr and Mrs Knight are worried that the side of their property has suffered structural damage and that it could collapse. Mrs Knight said: “If there is serious damage, the police are talking about closing the road in case the wall comes down.
“I feel shaky and I can’t stop thinking about what could have happened.
“It doesn’t bear thinking about – the whole wall could have caved in or worse. We’re so thankful the lamp took the worst of it.”
The couple heard a loud bang at about 7.30am.
Mrs Knight said she first thought the noise was snow falling from the roof.
“I peeped out the window and then saw the bus. I couldn’t believe it,” she added. “It’s a sharp corner to go down the hill and the driver must have skidded.”
Along with many other side routes in the area, the road was “incredibly” icy that morning, the pair said.
“The council has now gritted the road but I that’s like closing the stable door after the horse has bolted,” Mrs Knight said.
The couple, who have lived at the property for 23 years, say they won’t repair or replace the old lamp.
“I think it’s had its day,” Mr Knight added.
The Arriva bus, which was on a normal service journey, was recovered later that morning.
Meanwhile, drivers along Stockley Lane, which links Stanley Crook to Brancepeth, said they could feel their cars slipping along the two and a half mile long road on Wednesday morning.
One car skidded off into trees damaging its front end while traffic north of the Oakenshaw junction was brought to a stand still after a four vehicle pile up.
Stranded motorists helped push three cars and a delivery van off the snow-covered road sidings and back onto the “glacier” like road.
One driver said: “It’s like glass, the whole way up you could feel your wheels slipping beneath you, it was really eerie.
“The problem is because there’s no snow covering the road it looks alright but its is treacherous. When we got out to help push the cars out feet were slipping all over the place, it was like an ice rink.”
One taxi driver caught in the traffic said he was trying to get to Wolsingham but feared other roads might be affected by black ice. He said: “I’ve never known anything like it, it’s terrifying really. I’d like to know where the grit is because this road is like a glacier.
“There doesn’t seem to be any salt on the surface at all.”
A spokesman from Durham County Council said: “Durham County Council has gritted the C95 Stocksley Lane this morning after reports of icy conditions.
“The road was previously on the priority one network for salting but was not gritted following Govenment advice to cut back on the number of roads salted. Subsequently only A and B roads have been salted to try and preserve national salt stocks.
Despite this the council is doing its best to patch salt particularly bad areas on request.
Chief Inspector Andy Huddlestone from Durham Constabulary’s road policing unit said it was one of many small incidents affecting the region. He said the thawing conditions and rain were to blame as they had frozen over night.
He said: “We have been inundated with minor incidents all over the county, it’s been one of those days. I would urge drivers to stay off back roads, stick to the A and B roads as those should have been gritted.
“If you do find yourself travelling on a road covered by black ice drive extra cautiously. Leave extra stopping gaps between yourself and the car in front. Road surfaces can be difficult to read so make sure you’re prepared. Carry a shovel in the car so if you do need to spread some grit yourself you can do so.
“Also, try and use the grippier parts of the road, the ice doesn’t always cover the whole road. Near the verges you may find some patches not affected by ice.
“If you do get into difficulties, put your hazards on to alert other drivers and if you come across somebody in trouble, don’t try and pass them as that can lead to even more problems.”