AN investigation is under way by fire chiefs and police after four members of the public and five firefighters were injured in a spectacular road accident on Tuesday (Feb 8).

A station officer had to be cut free from the crushed cab of the fire engine and a fleet of ambulances ferried the other eight casualties to hospital after the lunchtime smash.

The fully-manned fire engine was responding to an emergency 999 call to Pilsworth when the police say it passed through a red light and was involved in a collision with a Bury Council van at the junction of Rochdale Road and Heywood Street, Bury.

According to the police, the emergency vehicle then ploughed into a brewery dray which was stationary on Bond Street.

The lorry, pictured minutes after the collision with the fire tender, was forced backwards into a Nissan Almera which in turn shunted into a Ford Escort.

The driver and passenger of the dray, Mr Paul Jones (46) from Failsworth and Robert McKessy (43) from Newton Heath, council worker Mr John Leonard from Bankfield Close, Ainsworth and a passenger in the Almera, Mrs Mary Poxton from Seddon Avenue in Radcliffe, were taken to hospital along with the five firefighters. The injured station officer, also called John Leonard, had to be cut free by his colleagues from the wrecked cabin and was treated in hospital for back injuries. Firemen Paul Taylor, Edward Collins, Fred Johnson and Gerald Birch suffered minor whiplash and shoulder injuries.

None of those taken to hospital was detained and all were allowed home after treatment.

Initial police reports suggest the local authority van was waiting to turn right from Heywood Street into Rochdale Road when the fire appliance, which was displaying its warning lights and sounding its siren, collided with the stationary vehicle.

Police were forced to reduce Rochdale Road to a single lane as brigade colleagues and paramedics evacuated the casualties.

A spokesman for Greater Manchester Fire Brigade confirmed an investigation would take place into the accident.

Station Officer Paul Myerscough said: "The fire fighters are very sore as you would expect and are currently on sick leave."

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