Lorry driver hailed after stopping elderly man driving the wrong way down the M9

A HERO lorry driver averted tragedy by using his vehicle to prevent a potentially fatal pile-up on a busy motorway.

Motorists said the truck driver’s quick thinking stopped an elderly male driver from careering into oncoming traffic on the M9.

Drivers swerved to avoid the red car after the man made his life-threatening error at around 9.20am yesterday.

Witnesses have praised the lorry hero, who was behind the wheel of an Asda delivery truck, and called for his bravery to be recognised.

The incident happened on the same day a man was killed and several people seriously injured in a horror smash between a car and a bus in North Ayrshire.

Last night, one motorist who witnessed the M9 drama, said: “It was unbelievable. I’m really shaken up by it.

“In my opinion the driver of the Asda delivery lorry deserves some sort of medal or a knighthood.”

The Asda driver is said to have used his vehicle as an impromptu safety barrier.

The witness said: “He sort of slowed his HGV right down to slow the traffic behind him.To read more on M9 road accidents, click here“He was flashing his lights and somehow managed to put the articulated lorry across the road to create a sort of road block to prevent things from whizzing up behind him.

“If someone had done, and hit the car going in the wrong direction, there would have been utter carnage.”

Another driver who did not wish to be named said cars had to dodge the red Fiesta as it travelled the wrong way at about 50mph.

She said: “I was driving from Edinburgh towards Falkirk when I noticed the car was on the other side of the road going the same way as me.

“Weirdly it didn’t register at first that he was wrong and I panicked I was the one going the wrong way.

“Then I noticed cars on the other side of the road beeping, flashing their lights and taking evasive action to swerve around him.

“I pulled over in a panic as the Asda guy came into view on the other side of the road.

“His road block manoeuvre basically saved the day.

“Once the Fiesta came to a stop the Asda driver got out and turned the Fiesta around and parked it on the hard shoulder.

“The driver of the car looked pretty shaken.

“I remember just a huge feeling of relief that it was all over and no one had been harmed.”

Police Scotland were unavailable for comment.

A spokeswoman for Asda said they were delighted with their quick thinking driver.

“We’re pleased to hear one of our highly trained drivers managed to prevent an accident today and everyone involved remained safe,” she said.