The UK can often conjure up some unusual car-related stories. And one recent story takes that to another level: the BBC reported a 90-year-old man who had driven his car onto a footbridge and got stuck on a footpath, which no doubt would have greatly confused pedestrians.
Humberside Police were called to the scene, with reports that a vehicle was being driven on the footpath on Clive Sullivan Way towards Hessle Foreshore. Onlookers were bemused at the sight, and thankfully, no pedestrians were injured.
However, despite there being no injuries, the incident did raise a few concerns due to it having happened on several other occasions. Some drivers avoid the bridge, realizing that it is for pedestrians and not for road users. Others still seem to drive along it, blissfully unaware until they get stuck further down the structure.
The East Riding of Yorkshire Council explained how they were able to get the car out of its predicament. Hessle Ward councillor David Nolan also explained that this has happened before, and spoke about what exactly has happened in the past, giving authorities in the area a nightmare to deal with.
What Actually Happened on the Footbridge?
Car driven by man, 90, gets stuck on footbridge – full story ⬇️ https://t.co/yZwuh8RvjD
— BBC East Yorkshire (@looknorthBBC) July 6, 2026
Humberside Police were called up after reports of a vehicle being driven along the footpath were received just before 11:00 BST. Upon arrival at the scene, they found that a 90-year-old man had driven his Ford onto the path and then kept going along the bridge until he reached the end.
Unfortunately for him, the footpath was blocked by a bollard, meaning he couldn’t get out at the end. The other problem was that it was nearly impossible to reverse back down, so the car was now stuck. The 90-year-old man was issued with a traffic offence report for driving without due care. Hessle Ward councillor David Nolan explained that this sort of incident had happened before.
“It looks funny, but it must be quite scary for the people involved,” Nolan said. “There is a ‘no vehicle entry’ sign on Ferry Road, before you get into the footbridge,” he added. “Some drivers ignore it, drive over the footbridge and then go into a spiral, which eventually ends up at a bollard, and it’d be impossible to reverse back out,” concluded Nolan. With no bollard at the other end of the bridge, drivers are easily duped into thinking that they can go across. They only realize they can’t do that when it is too late.
What Is Being Done To Stop This From Happening?
Thankfully for users of the footbridge, it looks like things might be done to sort the problem out. East Riding of Yorkshire Council said the bollard where the car was stuck was removed to get it out, but it will be replaced as quickly as possible. Putting in a bollard at the other end of the bridge, as well as signs, is also being considered.
A council spokesperson remarked on the situation. “Previous bollards installed at the Ferry Road entrance have been repeatedly damaged or removed without authorisation. “The council will continue to review appropriate measures to deter unauthorised access and protect the route for its intended users.” Hopefully, pedestrians won’t have to scramble past a car on the bridge in the near future.