This article first appeared on
thisisbolton.co.uk
"FORMER Bolton Wanderers soccer star Michael
Ricketts escaped with his life after his Ferrari crashed and overturned
on the M62.
The £120,000 red Ferrari Modena careered off
the carriageway in heavy rain, hit an embankment and then skidded
upside down through an area of trees.
Rescuers said they were amazed the footballer -- who
now plays for Middlesbrough -- survived the accident suffering only
minor cuts and bruises.
His high powered sports car, which ended-up on its
roof was wrecked in the crash between junction 20 and 21, near Rochdale,
just after 7pm on Saturday night.
Ricketts managed to crawl out of the wreckage by the
time police, fire and ambulance crews arrived at the scene.
Police believe the car may have aquaplaned on the
waterlogged motorway because of the heavy rain.
The 25-year-old striker had been driving home on the
motorway after the game against Bolton at Middlesbrough's Riverside
Stadium.
He had played the last 11 minutes of the 2-0 victory.
A spokesman for the ambulance service confirmed they
had attended the accident but that the driver had declined to go
to hospital.
A firefighter from Heywood who was called to the scene
said: "I don't know how he managed to get out unscathed. He
was lucky to escape with his life."
The player began his career with Walsall before being
snapped up by Bolton's Sam Allardyce for £400,000. He was
later sold to Middlesbrough by Bolton for £2.5 million in
January last year.
He won his first England cap playing in a 1-1 friendly
draw with Holland in February 2002.
Middlesbrough manager Steve McClaren said today: "We
are relieved that Michael emerged from what seems to be a very nasty
accident unscathed -- apart from only a few bumps and bruises. He
was in for training as normal today.""
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