A RUNCORN mum had a miraculous escape, after a lorry careered into her car, forcing her into two other vehicles, on the Runcorn Widnes bridge.

Mum-of-two, Carole Hanley, aged 62, of Palacfields, was trapped in her Ford Escort for an hour as emergency crews battled to free her.

She was released from Warrington Hospital on Friday with a broken leg and severe bruising and swelling to her arm and neck.

Her relieved daughter, Linda Hanley-Woods, aged, 40, said: “She was six feet away from being killed.

“The lorry crushed her car, jamming all her doors shut. But, if the driver hadn’t stopped when he did, she would not be here.

“We are so grateful to him.

The bridge was closed as paramedics, firefighters and the police dealt with the accident, at 12.45pm, last Wednesday.

Mrs Hanley’s family want to thank the emergency services and a kind driver who came to her aid.

Linda added: “The emergency services were amazing. It was really good team work.

“Firefighters had to cut the roof off her car to get her out. They were so efficient and fast.

“Paramedics carried mum out on a spinal board because they thought she might have spinal injuries.

“She was very well cared for by everyone.

“She is on the mend at home now, very upbeat and glad to be alive.”

She said her mum was on the approach road in Widnes, driving towards Runcorn, when the car in front of her suddenly stopped.Linda explained: “Mum is a good driver.

“She had to brake because the car in front stopped. The lorry behind didn‘t have time to brake and careered into her.

“He knocked her car into two more cars. She said there was a hell of a bang.”

Mrs Hanley’s other daughter, Helen Fayer, aged 38, from Widnes, and her son, Ian, aged 18, a Riverside College student, rushed to the hospital, with Linda, when they heard about the accident.

The Scania white and red curtain sided lorry was driven by a 57-year-old man from the West Midlands.

A silver Volkswagen Polo was driven by a 49-year-old man from Blackburn.

The bridge was closed for an hour.

The police are appealing for witnesses. Anyone with information is asked to call the roads policing unit on 0845 458 0000.

It was the second time in three days that the bridge was closed.

Both carriageways were shut for three hours on Sunday, January, 16, when a 47-year-old Widnes man threatened to jump.