Woman in fall from 20ft bridge over road

A woman fell 20ft from a bridge over the A5 in Staffordshire today bringing the road to a standstill in rush hour. The victim was flown to hospital.

Emergency services were called to a stretch of the road near Lichfield this morning.

The road at Weeford, between the Weeford island and B5404 at Mile Oak, was closed following the incident at 7.15am.

The woman, who suffered serious multiple injuries, was flown by air ambulance to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham.

Both carriageways were closed for two helicopters to land and take off. There were extensive tailbacks in both directions.

The woman was initially treated by an off duty ambulance technician. A doctor on the Warwickshire air ambulance also treated her at the scene along with paramedics in a rapid response vehicle.

Police say they are not treating the incident as supicious following the fall from the bridge which takes Flats Lane over the A5.

The road was fully re-opened to traffic by 9am.

Witnesses are being asked to contact Staffordshire police on 0300 123 4455.

Traffic was diverted off the A5 on to the A38.

There were also problems on the A5 through Cannock after a lorry broke down on the westbound carriageway between the Longford island and Gailey before 8am.