Driver Fatally Injured After Tree Strikes Van During Storm Darragh

An individual operating a vehicle has passed away subsequent to a tree collapsing onto his van amidst Storm Darragh. The man, aged in his 40s, sustained injuries while driving a Citroen van on the A59 in Longton, close to Lancashire Police’s headquarters, approximately at 09:00 GMT. His death occurred at the location of the incident, and his immediate family members have been notified. Detective Sergeant Matt Davidson of Lancashire Police issued a statement: “Very sadly this incident has resulted in the death of a man and our thoughts are with his loved ones at this time.” He added that an inquiry is currently underway, and he urged “anyone who saw what happened or has any dashcam or mobile phone footage to please get in touch.” In other developments related to Storm Darragh, millions residing in sections of Wales and south-west England received advisories to remain indoors, as the storm generated wind gusts exceeding 90 mph. The severe weather has caused interruptions to travel services, and several football fixtures, including the Merseyside derby featuring Liverpool and Everton, have been called off. Individuals commuting have been cautioned to exercise prudence following numerous tree falls across the nation attributed to the strong winds. For further engagement, listeners can access the top programs from BBC Radio Lancashire on Sounds and connect with BBC Lancashire on its platforms, including Facebook, X, and Instagram. Story contributions can also be submitted to northwest.newsonline@bbc.co.uk or through Whatsapp at 0808 100 2230. This content is copyrighted by BBC in 2024, with all rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for material found on external websites and provides information regarding its policy on external linking.