Police were called to the scene of a collision on the A666 on Saturday after a van came off the road and hit into a lamppost when the driver fell asleep.

An officer from the traffic unit in Eccles spotted the accident 9.10am.

The driver of the van was heading towards Bolton on St Peter’s Way when he fell asleep at the wheel before the junction with Manchester Road and came off the road into the grass verge, hitting a sign and then a lamppost.

The lamppost was ripped up by the force of the crash and the van was badly damaged.

A passer-by stopped to help the driver and there are no reported injuries.

A police spokesman said: “The driver said he feel asleep behind the wheel.

“He was driving in lane one when he drifted off. It came off the road into the grass, hit a sign post and ripped the lamppost down. The van has been written off.”

 

 

The driver was issued with a traffic officer’s report for driving without due car and attention.

The inside lane of the carriageway was partially closed while the vehicle was recovered.