A MOTHER and daughter are lucky to be alive today after their car was crushed under the wheels of a giant a 60-ton earth mover.

Amazingly, Hilary and Jennifer Beck, of Browning Street, Hoddlesden, suffered only relatively minor injuries in the horror-accident on Roman Road, Blackburn, close to the construction of the new M65 bridge at Davyfield Brow, on Saturday afternoon.

The white, G-registered Metro was first crushed by the huge lorry before being rolled over onto its roof and pushed right off the road.

Police accident investigators are today continuing their inquiries into the cause of the accident.

It happened when the huge vehicle, belonging to motorway contractors Amec, was crossing Roman Road to get from one side of the construction site to the other.

It ploughed into the Metro which was heading towards Darwen.

The pair were trapped until firefighters and paramedics could free them.

Daughter, Jennifer Beck, 15, was the first to be freed after around half and hour, but mother, Hilary, 45, was trapped for over an hour and a half.

She suffered severe shock, bruising, chest and back pains in the accident.

Both were taken to Blackburn Royal Infirmary. Hilary is still in hospital where today her condition is described as comfortable. Jennifer was released after treatment. Firefighters worked alongside paramedics to free the women.

Station Officer Tom Davies: "It really is amazing they got out alive. I have never seen anyone come out alive from a wreck like that.

"The car was crushed and there was only a very small amount of space inside.

"I saw a hand sticking out of the door when I got there and I thought they must be dead. They are lucky people.

"We had difficulty using cutting equipment because they people inside were so close to us.

"But we managed to cut enough away so the paramedics could get inside and stabilise the passengers.

"Then we cut away the doors and the side panels to free them."

A spokeswoman from Amec said the company was assisting a Health and Safety Executive investigation. and also carrying ou its own investigation into the accident.

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