Off duty Lancashire volunteer Police Officer praised for life saving actions following M6 crash

A Lancashire volunteer police officer who works as a long‑distance lorry driver in his day job has been commended for his exceptional bravery and quick thinking following a serious collision on the M6 near Staffordshire.

Despite being off duty, out of uniform, and travelling in his HGV, Special Sergeant Alex Rose, who volunteers across South Division which covers the areas of Preston, Chorley, South Ribble and West Lancashire , immediately intervened when he discovered a crashed vehicle positioned dangerously and facing oncoming traffic.

The driver, who was injured, remained inside the vehicle, exposed to significant and immediate danger.

Recognising the risk of a further collision, Alex, who works for the Bowker Group in Bamber Bridge and travels up and down the country for work, instinctively used his lorry to shield the casualty from approaching traffic, creating an improvised safety barrier.

He then contacted emergency services, provided initial first aid, and assisted the driver out of the vehicle and away from the live carriageway to a place of safety.

But Alex’s efforts did not stop there. While awaiting the arrival of emergency responders, he worked urgently to warn oncoming motorists and slow traffic….actions that continued until officers from Staffordshire Police and National Highways attended the scene and closed the motorway.

Alex said: “I did what any police officer would do. When I saw the situation unfolding, my only focus was keeping the driver safe and preventing anyone else from being hurt. The training we receive gives us the confidence to step in, even when we’re off duty, and I’m grateful I was in the right place to help.”

South Divisional Commander Chief Superintendent Ian Jones said: “Alex demonstrated exactly what it means to serve the public, acting with courage, leadership and professionalism even when off duty. His quick thinking ensured the safety of a vulnerable casualty, helped prevent what could have been a far more serious incident and may well have saved the driver’s life.

“Our Special Constabulary is an essential part of our policing family. These are highly committed volunteers who give their time, skills and professionalism to protect the public, often, like Alex, going above and beyond what anyone could expect. We are immensely proud of the dedication shown by Alex and all our Specials every single day.”

William Bowker from The Bowker Group said: “We are incredibly proud of Alex and the calm, decisive way he responded in what was clearly a dangerous situation. His actions helped protect other road users and ensured the driver involved was brought to safety.

‘’On behalf of everyone at the company, I would like to personally thank Alex for his quick thinking and life-saving actions. We are incredibly proud of the way he stepped in to help.”