The driver of an HGV that overturned on the A1 near Biggleswade this morning has recounted the horrifying moment the vehicle tipped – and deemed it the most frightening experience of her life.

Suzanna Jones, an international HGV driver who used to handle such vehicles for the British Army, was approaching the Biggleswade south roundabout when she noticed the trailer tipping, and braced for impact.

The crash, shortly before 6am, caused long delays and saw the northbound carriageway closed for some hours – but amazingly, Suzanna emerged without major injuries, and no-one else was hurt either.

Suzanna says her seatbelt saved her life – and this evening she has written a public post on Facebook recounting the moment of the crash.

“I suppose I should inform you all of the very serious incident that happened to me this morning which may have affected a number of you on the way to work,” she wrote.

“My truck overturned on Biggleswade roundabout on the A1. I have never been so frightened in the whole of my life.

“I wasn’t going fast or driving strangely. Luckily I have a witness that was right behind me that watched it happen, and also I have a dash cam to prove that my driving was normal.

“I am in a lot of pain but nothing is broken. Luckily for me my seatbelt saved my life, otherwise I would not be here to tell the tale.

“I felt something move in the back of the trailer – and luckily I looked in my nearside mirror and saw the trailer lose balance and tip over, which obviously made me realise that it was going to drag me over too. So I was ready for it, and clung onto the steering wheel waiting for the impact!

“What a serious bang it was. I managed to free myself from the seatbelt and drop myself down onto the passenger side door, which was now the floor. What a mess the cab was in.

“The emergency services were on the scene within minutes. Luckily for me I was small enough to fit through the tiny sunroof, otherwise they would have had to have smashed the windscreen because I was trapped in the cab.”

She concluded: “That is the most serious thing that has ever happened to me and it has shook me quite a bit.”

Suzanna’s account has prompted hundreds of supportive comments from friends and well-wishers.

Police, paramedics and firefighters all attended the scene after the crash just before 6am. Highways England closed the northbound carriageway between Junction 10 for Baldock Services and the Biggleswade north roundabout at about 9.20am to allow for clearance of the lorry.

Diversions were put in place at Junction 10 – directing motorists to the A507 – and at the Langford turn near Biggleswade.