Alex Harries's diary

Before I say anything else, I want to make it absolutely clear that no-one was injured in this incident. Oh, and this post is only work-related in as much as I was on my lunch break when it happened so, err, it's not work-related at all... Oh, and this is quite a non-event really, so don't read it expecting tales of heroics or great action, etc. ;o)

Something happened today which has left me absolutely fuming at three people who Should Know Better. Let me explain... 

The Registry - a student pub in Portsmouth - has recently been refurbished inside and out, and I found myself sitting in their outside seating area today having a coffee with a friend (let's call her Jade, since that's her name...), talking over the noise of passing traffic about not-a-lot-really.

The traffic is normally loud - the pub is next to an arterial route - so rattles and bangs from the traffic aren't uncommon, but the unmistakable noise of something big and heavy hitting something much smaller and lighter, followed by several more smaller-and-lighter things also taking a beating, is pretty recognisable. I turned around from rolling cigarette number 3, mouth flopping open, just in time to see a large artic lorry coming to a halt on top of a row of what used to be bicycles and bicycle stands, and God knows what else.

Everything - us, traffic, people - waited in stunned silence for a heartbeat before our instincts (or, whatever is it that tells us to "get your arse up and do something") kicked in.

While Jade was on the phone summoning police, ambulances, army, Navy Seals and anyone else who wasn't on their lunch break, I - along with what seemed like the rest of the population of Portsmouth - ran* over to the cab of the lorry. I could see the driver inside the lorry, sitting upright and seemingly alert, and his first words to me as he stepped down from the cab were "I don't know what happened...". He's in a couple of the photos below, holding a cup of tea and looking pretty much as bewildered as he was when he got out of the cab.

I don't do mind-reading, but I can be fairly certain the first questions in everybody's minds were, "is it going to blow up and kill us?" and "is there anybody trapped underneath?". In that order. I was vaguely aware I'd lost a flip-flop in the scrum and, surveying the scene, saw the lorry was sitting on top of what was left of a tall lamppost and the smashed remains of maybe 10 bicycles, making it hard to see if anything - or anyone - else was trapped.

Several people, myself included, had a good look under the lorry to check for ... well, anything under there wouldn't have been in very good shape; thankfully, the only casualties were inanimate objects. As I got to the back of the lorry, I looked back to see the traffic was still backed up with the drivers who had been behind the lorry sitting in shock as if waiting for someone to tell them what they'd just seen was supposed to happen.

As I got to the other (left) side of the lorry, I came across a street cleaner with his cleaning trolley wearing a look that, put into words, might have gone something along the lines of "you can f*** off if you think I'm cleaning that up...". Once the police started arriving, and it was clear that no-one was even scratched, I shot off and grabbed my camera, taking the shots you can see below.

This is where things got a little weird; while I was taking pictures, I still had my work ID around my neck (and no shoes, but that's not important...). Three women, who I knew worked nearby in a business very much related to mine, approached me and a conversation followed which went something along these lines (I don't recall it word-for-word, but you can get the basic idea):

(Their elected spokesperson) "Why are you taking photos?"

(Me) "Errm...(!?)"

I was totally unprepared for that question and, seeing their ID cards, my brain - which I often suspect is on a mission to make me look even more daft than I am - made an unexpected connection and told me to reply, "Err... I work for the Union?". Somewhere in the back of my head, the "wrong answer" buzzer from TFI Fridays went off...

"We can see that. We want to know what you think you're doing. Don't you think this is a bit morbid?"

Then their deputy spokesperson chipped in, "I hope this isn't going to go in Pugwash magazine..." (the Union's student publication). Oh. Shit. I could see the headlines; "Pugwash editor snaps away at gory accident scene for student titillation".

"I don't really think this is the kind of content Pugwash magazine prints, do you?" I replied and, in a move which I suspect may have been choreographed, all three tut-tutted, gave me a look that said "does your mother know you do This Sort Of Thing?" and walked off.

I was completely unprepared for this kind of confrontation, and it left me totally gob-smacked that this trio, all of whom I'm certain were present when the incident happened and none of whom I saw lifting a finger to help, would talk down to me in this way.

What I didn't mention at the time, because it was quite clear no explanation in that situation would have sounded sincere, was that I had only gone to fetch a camera once I knew the scene was safe and there were no casualties. Since the incident, I've checked the local and national press to see if the incident has been reported and so far there's been nothing, which is a good sign no-one was hurt or injured. Likewise, there's no yellow "Accident - can you help?" boards at the crash scene. Had there been any casualties, then these images wouldn't even have been taken, let alone published.

Before I step down off this soapbox I've voluntarily hopped on to, this is as good a time as any to point out a couple of things which will underpin any kind of reporting I or the Union publishes during the coming year: I will never allow anything to be published that crosses the bounds of common decency, and I will never, ever put journalism or journalistic ideals ahead of my basic obligations as a citizen to help someone in danger. Picture that annoying reporter in the Die Hard movies - I'm not him.

As melodramatic as this probably sounds, I think today's confrontation probably happened because, to a bystander, I appeared to be taking advantage of the situation to take photos for God-knows-what purpose, instead of trying to help or maintain a respectful distance; even the suggestion that this was the case pisses me off more than a little.

What upsets me the most, though, is that at least one of these three pavement commentators knows me by name and has met me in an official capacity; no doubt all three will have returned to their office believing that I'm a low-life (I freely admit I am, but not because of what I did today...).

Anyway, I'll get over it, the lorry driver will (I hope) get over it and, no doubt, the bike owners will also get over it (although I imagine returning to the spot where you parked your bike to find nothing but a row of flattened bike stands and the stub of a lamp-post will be quite an interesting one to figure out...).

Pictures (more on Flickr)

More...

* What possessed me to run towards something that a few seconds ago was laying waste to a significant amount of Portsmouth's street furniture, I'll never know, but I've done this kind of thing before and so help me God, if it's something stupid, I'll probably do it again one day...

Disclaimer: it should be fairly clear from this post that this is not in any way work-related, and nothing here is approved by the Union, or written by myself in any official capacity. If something you read or see here offends you, or you feel the content is inappropriate, please either contact me here or use the "complain about this blog entry" button towards the bottom-right of this page and it will be dealt with accordingly. Thankyou - Al :o)

Comments have been closed for this article

 

 

i don't think you should feel bad in anyway for what you did for several reasons, your first concern was for the well being of the driver and those around. then lets face it, this kind of thing doesn't happen every day and certainly seems news worthy (good photos by the way, maybe the local newspaper might be interested in them?) and its odd for them to label it morbid if no-one was hurt. 
If i were you I'd take this as more an over-reaction on there part and probably typical of harassment that most photographers get.

Simon - Tue, 21 Aug 2007

 

 

Thanks Simon - appreciated. The Portsmouth news ran a front-page story about it today with a photo taken from the upper floors of the International Language School (I think?). I've sent them a link to the photos but it's old news now. 
 
The accident (what I saw of it) was spectacular though, but of course you're not thinking about that when you see big lorry vs. bikes and God knows what else on a pavement! 
 
/al

Alex Harries - Tue, 21 Aug 2007