Warning to drivers who hurled abuse at highways staff at collision scene

One of the vehicles involved in the collision. Picture by South Yorkshire Police Operational Support.

TRAFFIC cops have criticised motorists who verbally abused Highways Agency staff while they were closing a motorway and diverting traffic at a collision scene.

The three-vehicle crash shut the northbound carriageway of the M18 near Junction 1 at Bramley on Saturday (1) at 9.25am. Two people were taken to hospital.

An officer from South Yorkshire Police's Operational Support unit said the collision had caused massive tailbacks and some motorists had been uncooperative.

The officer said: “What we don’t appreciate is stranded motorists thinking it's OK to verbally abuse Highways Agency staff who are trying to put closures on and divert traffic, or thinking it’s a good idea to drive the wrong way up the hard shoulder in order to get out of the traffic jam.”

"Please rest assured that when we check our cameras if we can identify you we will prosecute you."

Witnesses are urged to call 101, quoting incident number 300 of September 1.