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Cash hero arrested
Mike Keegan
25/ 9/2007

A HERO trucker who saved a driver from her burning car after a motorway pile-up was arrested - for trying to get back to his lorry.

Graeme Deacon (pictured) had earlier led another shocked driver to safety after stopping to help following the crash.

When he tried to cross the carriageway to get back to his truck, a police officer told him to stop.

A row broke out, and Mr Deacon says he was threatened with CS gas and arrested - then spent three hours in a police cell.

Mr Deacon, who says he has made an official complaint to Greater Manchester Police , said: "If this is the way they treat someone for saving others I would hate to see what happens to real criminals."

The 38-year-old HGV driver today told how he was driving on the M67 near Hyde when he saw a car on the opposite carriageway crash into the central barrier.

Mr Deacon parked up on the hard shoulder and led the shocked driver to the safety of the central reservation. Another car then ploughed into the back of the wreckage and caught fire.

Mr Deacon ran to the second car and wrenched the door open, freeing the second driver, a young woman.

Then, wearing a fluorescent jacket, he directed traffic away from the accident and cleared a path for emergency services, who he had already called.

But the father-of-three said when the police arrived a row broke out when he tried to return to his car.

He said: "I had managed to lead two people to safety, diverted traffic and in my eyes averted a major catastrophe.

"I was late for work as it was and had given police my details and a statement but when I started to walk back to my car I was told to stop or else I would be arrested for the equivalent of jay walking. Admittedly it was across three lanes but I had waited until it was safe.

Rammed

"I was told in no uncertain terms that unless I complied I would be CS gassed. Then three officers threw me to the floor - rammed my face into the gravel and handcuffed me - I couldn't believe it."

Mr Deacon, from Glossop, was then escorted across the opposite motorway lanes to a police van and taken to Ashton police station where he was put in the cells. He was told his car had been towed away and would cost £95 to recover.

The police insist he was detained for his own safety and for the safety of others.

Mr Deacon added: "After I had been at the station for three hours I was called in to see the Duty Inspector. He apologised and said he was appalled at the way I had been treated. I was taken to my car without having to pay the charge and allowed to go.

"I wanted to go to work but when I got in the car my hands were shaking and I had to call in sick so on top of it all they've cost me a night's wages!"

An eye witness said he saw Mr Deacon being put into the police van.

"I asked other people what had happened and they explained the man had been a real hero but was arrested when he tried to get back to his car. I know he shouldn't have tried to cross the motorway but all it would have taken would have been for the police to calm him down and then take him back to his car safely.

"He shouldn't have been treated like a villain."

Supt Alan Greene, from GMP's Traffic Network Section, praised Mr Deacon for doing 'an excellent job at the scene of this incident'.

He added: "Once traffic officers arrived they offered to get Mr Deacon back to his car safely, but asked him to wait until they had brought the traffic under control. He insisted on trying to return to his car by crossing three live lanes of motorway traffic, with vehicles travelling past at high speed.

"In order to prevent him from causing a danger to himself and others, officers had to restrain Mr Deacon and he was arrested. This action was necessary at the time to allow officers to bring the situation under control. However Mr Deacon was not charged with any offences and no further police action will be taken."