Check your tree mail: the van was freed after the fire crew cut away part of the tree
Left hanging around: Richard Whittaker’s van in the treePublished Date:
26 April 2008
By Joe Shute
A POSTMAN on his daily round ended up trapped in his van six feet up a tree after a freak road smash.
The crash in Roch-dale Road, Greetland, saw Richard Whittaker career through a dry-stone wall and into the tree where he was left dangling for 15 minutes before firefighters could cut him free.
Mr Whittaker's van was involved in a collision with a £50,000 silver BMW and was shunted off the road.
The crash happened only yards from his home.
His shocked wife – who he had been talking to seconds before – could only look on in horror.
Neighbour Paul Howarth, 48, who lives opposite, said: "I heard this almighty smash and then he was stuck in the tree.
"He is very lucky really. He could have gone off the side.
"When the firemen got him down his wife gave him a right telling off.
"We all know him round here.
"He's a nice guy and we hope he's back delivering soon."
Another said: "It's not every day you see a van in a tree but the way Richard was perched he was really lucky. It's a big drop."
Three fire engines from Halifax attended, securing the van with a metal coil and cutting off branches to pull him to safety.
Watch manager Chris Armitage said: "He was trapped there for about 15 minutes but when we got him out he was right as a bobbin."
Both drivers were unharmed.
A Post Office spokesman said: "Mr Whittaker was unhurt and all the mail was delivered."
