Driver rescued after lorry falls off Thelwall Viaduct on M6 in Warrington

The driver of a HGV has been rescued after the lorry smashed through a barrier and fell 60 feet off a motorway.

A huge emergency services response attended the major collision, at the Thelwall Viaduct on the M6 northbound in Warrington between junctions 20 and 21, shortly after 6.50pm on 30 September.

All lanes on the northbound carriageway were closed as emergency services worked at the scene.

Fire crews used specialist equipment to lower themselves down 60 feet and rescue the driver from the vehicle.Cheshire Police[1] said the injuries sustained by the driver were not thought to be life-threatening.

Officers remained at the scene for a number of hours before one lane was reopened to allow trapped motorists past the scene.

Credit: Cheshire Fire and Rescue

The fire service said they were also using equipment to contain around 1,000 litres of biodiesel that had leaked from the fuel tanks of the lorry.

FedEx, who it is believed the lorry belongs to, have been contacted for comment.A Cheshire Police spokesperson said: “Officers attended the scene and found a lorry had come off the carriageway and landed on the embankment below the bridge.

“The driver of the lorry is not believed to have suffered any life-threatening injuries.

A Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: “Firefighters were called to reports of a heavy goods vehicle (HGV) that had left the carriageway of the M6 northbound between Junction 20 and 21, close to the Thelwall Viaduct.”On arrival, they found that a HGV had left the carriageway and overturned on an embankment, falling approximately 60 feet.

M6 in Cheshire after a lorry fell 60 metres from the Thelwall Viaduct between junctions 20 and 21 Credit: Cheshire Fire and Rescue

“Crews used technical rescue equipment to lower themselves and reach the casualty, who was handed over to the care of attending paramedics.”Crews have applied water to cool the HGV and are using bunding to contain a leak of approximately 1000 litres of bio-diesel from the fuel tanks of the vehicle.

“While the carriageway was fully closed, lanes one and two have since been re-opened by Cheshire Police and the Highways Agency.”

References

1. ^ Cheshire Police (www.itv.com)