M65 closure ‘until this evening’ after serious five-vehicle crash and oil spillage
A ‘serious’ five-vehicle crash on the M65 will see a section of the motorway remain partially closed ‘until this evening’.
Police, paramedics, firefighters and an air ambulance were called to the incident between junction 7 for Accrington and junction 6 for Blackburn shortly before 3pm on Sunday (June 11). Two people were taken to hospital – a man with a head injury and a woman with a chest injury – and a further three suffered minor injuries.
The M65 was closed in both directions to allow the emergency services to respond. The westbound carriageway remained fully closed for around 12 hours for a ‘police incident investigation’ before one lane re-opened at around 2.45am this morning (June 12).
Resurfacing work is continuing taking place following a serious accident which resulted in a diesel oil spillage damaging sections of the road. National Highways said lanes one and two of the westbound carriageway ‘are likely to be closed until this evening’ with only lane three open past the scene ‘for much of the day’.
Drivers are being warned to face delays to their journey and advised to use alternative routes to ‘avoid likely congestion’.
In a statement, the agency said: “Drivers in Lancashire[1] are being advised a section of the M65[2] east of Blackburn[3] will subject to lane closures for the rest of today (Monday 12 June, 2023). Two lanes of the three lane westbound carriageway between junction 7 for Accrington[4] and junction 6 for Blackburn are likely to be closed until this evening following a serious collision along the motorway yesterday (Sunday 11 June).
“The collision, involving five vehicles, happened shortly before 3pm yesterday afternoon requiring the full closure of the westbound carriageway for a police incident investigation. The eastbound carriageway was also closed during the afternoon to allow an air ambulance to attend the scene.
“A diesel oil spillage has damaged sections of lane one and lane two of the westbound carriageway and these will need to be resurfaced throughout today with only lane three open past the scene for much of the day. Drivers are advised to delay their journeys or choose alternative routes should they wish to avoid likely congestion.
“Drivers are also advised to check traffic conditions before setting out on journeys.”
North West Ambulance Service[5] said: “We were called at 2.36pm to between junction 7 and junction 6 westbound on the M65. It’s a five-vehicle RTC. There is a male with a head injury and a female with a chest injury.
“They have both been taken by land ambulance to Royal Blackburn Hospital. There are three other patients with minor injuries.”
References
- ^ Lancashire (www.lancs.live)
- ^ M65 (www.lancs.live)
- ^ Blackburn (www.lancs.live)
- ^ Accrington (www.lancs.live)
- ^ North West Ambulance Service (www.lancs.live)