PARISHIONERS had to deal with traffic chaos in Horrabridge on Monday after an accident involving a police vehicle left the village gridlocked. The two-vehicle crash on the A386 at the junction with Graybridge Road occurred at 11am. The police vehicle, being driven by a duty officer, was on an emergency call and a green Rover was also involved. Both drivers were taken to hospital. The road was closed for several hours, causing traffic congestion — two further accidents, one on the Walkhampton side of the village and one nearer Tavistock, exacerbated the traffic situation. Chairman of Horrabridge Parish Council John Taynton and two other villagers were involved in directing traffic for more than an hour. Mr Taynton said: 'Diverting traffic through the village created huge delays for motorists but thankfully people were very patient. 'Whenever there is an accident here it causes us problems and at a time when there is major roadworks going on, the worst is going to happen. If villagers did not take it into their own hands to manage the traffic there would have been greater problems.' He said they had to control traffic coming in both directions over the bridge and direct people who did not know how to get to Plymouth. The A386 was open again by 1.20pm. Mr Taynton said the parish council would be taking this matter up with the police who he said needed to take responsibility for the traffic chaos in the village. Police are appealing for witnesses to the first collision and anyone with information is being asked to phone 08452 777444 and quote police log 391140507.
