A grey van ran off Church Hill in Swanage and crashed through temporary barriers that had been put in place following a collision at the same spot a few months earlier.
This time, the accident outside St Mary’s Church, happened on Wednesday 24th May 2023 on a dry and sunny afternoon, while the double vehicle collision in December 2022 was on a very icy morning.
The vehicle had to be winched back onto Church Hill
Number of incidents over the years
Church Hill is a steep, narrow road that winds around the Grade II listed parish church and a known accident hotspot due to the tight turn in the road.
Over the years, there’s been a number of incidents and the church has had to repair the railings before, however this time work hadn’t started yet, so the vehicle crashed through the temporary barriers.
The original railings were damaged in December 2022
An incident in December 2022 showing one of the cars that collided on black ice and demolished St Mary’s Church railings
No serious injuries
Swanage Fire Station and ambulance crews were called to the scene just before 4 pm.
A spokesperson from Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue said:
“Crews from Swanage and Poole attended the incident involving a single vehicle which had left the carriageway, into some railings.
“Firefighters stabilised the vehicle before using hydraulic cutting equipment to remove the railings from around it. They were then able to release a casualty who was left in the care of ambulance crews.”
It’s understood that no one was seriously injured in the crash.
Swanage Fire Station crew are called to lots of incidents, not just fires. On Sunday 21st May 2023 a crew helped a motorcyclist who had come off his bike along Ferry Road in Studland
Later on Sunday 21st May 2023, Swanage Fire Station was called to an explosion at an electricity sub station in Southcliffe Road in Durlston, South Swanage
“We are currently recruiting”
Swanage Fire Station added that crews are called to all sorts of incidents, not just fires and are looking for new people to join the team:
“If you are interested in becoming a firefighter in Swanage, then let us know as we are currently recruiting.”
Swanage Fire Station can be contacted via its Facebook page
