Man dies after bridge collapses in Lancashire farm accident
© Jacek Wojnarowski/Adobe Stock A man has died and several others left seriously hurt after a Polaris Ranger and trailer carrying 11 people plunged into a river when a bridge collapsed on a Lancashire farm.
Officers from Lancashire Police were called at around 4.25pm on Tuesday (18 January) following reports of a serious farm accident in the Moor Lane area of Roeburndale, just a few miles from the Yorkshire Dales.
Police said the party had been engaged in a farm shoot at the time of the accident.
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One man suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. A second man suffered a serious head injury and was taken to Royal Preston Hospital for treatment.
A third person suffered a serious back injury and was taken to Royal Lancaster Infirmary. Others who were injured were taken to the same hospital.
Dozens & Dozens of Police Vehicles, Ambulances , Air Ambulance, Fire Engines,Cave & Mountain Rescue heading up Roeburndale @CaveRescueOrg @GuardianDigital @BBCLancashire @CravenHerald @ltcravenherald @VivienM_TandA @HornbyFire @LancashireFRS @CumbriaFire @leponline pic.twitter.com/PjTaZ88Hvx
— Thomas Beresford (@bezberesford) January 18, 2022
Emergency services including police, ambulance crews, fire crews and mountain rescue attended the scene.
Road closures were put in place and expected to continue for some time.
An investigation into the circumstances around the incident is under way and the Health and Safety Executive has been informed.
Investigation launched
Det Insp Kirsty Wyatt of Lancashire Police said: “My thoughts are very much with all those involved in what is a very sad and tragic incident.
“One man has sadly died and a number of people have suffered serious injuries.
“At this time, we believe the vehicle was pulling the trailer, containing a number of people, when a bridge gave way. Those people were then thrown from the vehicle and trailer.
“Our investigation is at very early stages and enquiries are ongoing to establish what happened.”
Anyone with information is asked to call Lancashire Police on 101, quoting log 0953 of 18 January.