M11 closed at Stortford after vegetable oil lorry overturns and fire …
The M11 was shut in both directions at Bishop’s Stortford after a lorry carrying 30,000 litres of vegetable oil overturned and threatened to catch fire on Wednesday afternoon.
The heavy goods vehicle was travelling north when it hit the central reservation barriers and overturned just north of the junction 8 exit slip road.
A fire from residual fuel broke out on the carriageway beneath the stricken tanker but the flames had been extinguished by the time any of the five fire crews sent to the scene had arrived.
The tanker became separated from the cab, which remained upright. In a video posted on social media, the driver could be seen walking around.
Essex Police and Essex County Fire and Rescue Service (ECFRS) were called at about 3.20pm.
A police spokesman said: “When we arrived at the scene we found the road blocked in both directions by a single-vehicle collision. A lorry had partially overturned and part of the highway was on fire.
“We closed the road in both directions while our colleagues in the fire service extinguished the fire.
“The lorry driver has not sustained injuries believed to be life-threatening or life-changing.
“We will remain at the scene while the vehicle is moved. Drivers should check before they travel and the road may be closed for some time.”
ECFRS sent crews from Stansted, Newport, Great Dunmow, Harlow and Loughton.
A spokeswoman said: “On arrival, crews reported that a small fire from residual fuel was out on arrival.
“The lorry had been carrying approximately 30,000 litres of vegetable oil and crews worked to make sure none of it was leaking from the tanker onto the road.
“Firefighters worked to make the scene safe by 4.25pm. The scene has been left in the care of police and highways colleagues.”
National Highways said that traffic was being diverted off the motorway via the J8 exit slip road and back on via the entry slip road. It says there are delays of over an hour approaching the scene.