A CRANE hire driver is being praised for steering his 28-ton vehicle off the A2 to stop it smashing into a build-up of crashed cars.

Kevin Rix, from Dover, was forced to skid into a bank when he suddenly saw a mass of red lights looming through thick fog near Faversham.

The accident occurred yesterday on the London-bound carriageway of the A2 under Stocker's Hill Bridge at Boughton during the morning rush-hour.

Mr Rix, who has only recently joined the Hythe-based crane hire firm Millennium Lifting Ltd, said: "There was a big bank of lights. There were four to five cars and I could see the back of a red lorry. I would have ploughed into all five of them.

"When I got out I was shook up. I was just looking to see if anyone was trapped. I could hear more crashes going on. I just didn't want to see anyone get killed in front of me. I've seen it before."

The father of three added: "If I hadn't done what I did it would have been a much worse situation. It was just instinct."

His boss, Andy Campbell said: "I've seen plenty of cranes on their sides but nothing like what Kev's done. He's done a superb job and when he got out and everyone had calmed down a bit people were saying well done.

"I've known Kevin for years, but he's only recently joined the firm. He's a very good driver.

"He was just level headed about it. Rather than pile in the cars he put it into the bank."

More than 50 vehicles were involved when further collisions took place further back towards Canterbury. In all, 14 people were injured, three seriously.

Wreckage was spread over two to three miles. Both lanes were brought to a standstill and the road was closed between Harbledown and Brenley Corner.

Diversions caused gridlock in villages such as Harbledown, Blean, Dunkirk, Boughton and Hernhill. The rest of the road remained closed until mid-afternoon while the road was cleared of vehicles.

Kent Police say that virtually the whole of its traffic department was involved.

Ch Insp John Frayne, said there would be an investigation but the crashes could have been avoided had people taken more care.

Fire crews were called to help cut people out of vehicles and help make the scene safe. Paramedic crews from Herne Bay, Sittingbourne, Dover and Thanet were mobilised.

Kent and Canterbury Hospital was put on standby to receive large numbers of casualties but stood down its emergency plans as ambulance crews brought in the seriously, none of them in a life-threatening condition.

Three men were detained overnight with fracture or neck injuries. The other five were discharged.

The other casualties, all described as walking wounded, were taken to the Queen Victoria Memorial Hospital at Sittingbourne.

Canterbury fire station sub-officer Gavin Hayward said: "It was absolute mayhem for the first crews."