UPDATED: Tractor trailer overturns on Poole roundabout (From Bournemouth Echo)

UPDATED: Tractor trailer overturns on Poole roundabout

1:40pm Wednesday 9th January 2013 in News

AN overturned trailer spewed tonnes of wood chippings on the pavement outside Poole's Dolphin Shopping Centre this morning.

Fortunately no-one was walking along the pavement at the time and there were no taxis waiting in the rank on the George Roundabout.

The trailer turned on its side, blocking the entrance to the taxi rank. The chipped conifers rained down on the pavement, their force buckling the railings.

Tractor driver Peter Cox was driving the eight tonne trailer from Parkstone Golf Course to Wimborne when the incident happened.

“I was coming round the roundabout and it just went,” he said. “Before I could do anything it was too late and it was gone.”

He added: “If the trailer hadn't come away from the tractor, it would have turned the tractor over as well.”

The tractor kept going, coming to a halt further round the roundabout.

Dolphin Centre staff were quickly on the scene with brooms to clear a path through for shoppers.

Eye-witness Philip Gray, 47, from Parkstone said he moved back when he saw it coming. “I could see it was going to tip over,” he said. “There was no-one in the way.”

Poole Daily Echo front office staff also heard the bang and saw the trailer slew across the road and come to a halt infront of them.

“I heard a noise,” said Pam Orchard. “All of a sudden I saw the container just literally drifting towards me, I could hear it falling. It banged onto the pavement and luckily there was nobody there. What a mess.”

Colleague Marie Stuart said: “I heard an almighty crash. I thought it was a car crash. It could have been a lot worse.”

Traffic was still flowing freely around the roundbout at lunchtime as a gang of men with spades started to clear up the spilt chippings although More Bus were reporting delays to all their services from Poole Bus Station.