South Yorkshire Times, July 2nd, 1960
Lorry Runs Backwards For 30 Yards At Conisbro’
Wilfred Smethurst (33), of Chestnut Grove, Conisbrough, held grimly onto the wheel of a nine-ton coal lorry as it ran 30 yards down a hill at Conisbrough, on Monday.
The lorry, fully laden, crashed into a gateway and wedged between two buildings at Old Hill, two or its eight wheels suspended in the air.
Most of the 13 tons of coal the lorry was carrying spilled on to the ground Mr. Smethurst escaped Injury
The lorry was climbing New Hill when apparently, the engine failed. Mr. Smethurst jammed on the brakes, but they had no effect, and the vehicle began to roll backwards down the 1 in 7 gradient.
The front of a hairdressers’ shop, run by Mrs. B. Williams was damaged. The window framework had been pushed six inches out of place
No-one was in the front of the shop at the time of the accident.