A police officer endured possible broken ribs when a lorry, bearing cloned plates and laden with stolen spirits, collided with vehicles in an attempt to escape.
The truck had evaded police pursuit on the northbound M42 at 10:00 BST on Friday, prompting the establishment of a roadblock further along the route. Just prior to Junction 7 near Coleshill, Warwickshire, a tire-deflating device, known as a stinger, was employed to puncture the front tires of the HGV.
Despite the damage, the lorry continued its reckless path, forcefully colliding with numerous cars, including a police vehicle, resulting in the officer’s injury.
“[The lorry] persisted until another stinger was deployed just before Junction 9, near Curdworth, to deflate the rear tires. Subsequently, the vehicle exited the motorway and proceeded the wrong way down the southbound exit slip road,” reported Central Motorway Police.
“The HGV collided with a police vehicle and multiple other cars before eventually coming to a halt, obstructing the slip road.”
Authorities revealed that the lorry’s driver attempted to flee but was ultimately captured with the aid of a police helicopter.
He was among a group of five males, aged 22 to 40, apprehended on suspicion of vehicle theft and burglary, according to police.
Furthermore, one of the individuals inside the lorry, which transported 200 crates of stolen spirits, required medical attention for injuries sustained when the vehicle came to a halt.
