Lorry crashes through viaduct barrier and falls to ground below

A lorry has fallen from the Thelwall Viaduct, landing on the ground below and causing several lanes on the M6 to close. The closures remained in place overnight. The HGV is thought to have crashed through a barrier before falling off the bridge[1] and hitting the embankment below.

Emergency services, including police[2] and fire crews, rushed to the scene and managed partial closures along the M6[3]. An image of the aftermath reveals the severely damaged vehicle lying on an embankment beneath the motorway, with smoke billowing from the crash site. The driver was reportedly rescued and taken to hospital[4] with non-life-threatening injuries.

Approximately 1,000 litres of biodiesel spilt from the vehicle’s fuel tanks during the collision, according to Manchester Evening News. The Thelwall Viaduct, located in Warrington, carries the M6 motorway over the Manchester Ship Canal and the River Mersey. Three lanes were closed on the northbound carriageway due to significant damage to the barrier, while another lane stayed open but with a reduced speed limit.

Cheshire Police have stated that the lane closures will be in effect “for some time.”, reports the Mirror. Police issued a statement warning drivers of a “serious collision” on the M6 northbound between junctions 20 and 21, near the Thelwall Viaduct, resulting in multiple lane closures. The force advised motorists to avoid the area and find alternative routes, as the closures were expected to remain in place for some time.

Emergency services responded to the incident, using specialist equipment to rescue the HGV driver after the vehicle left the carriageway and overturned on an embankment. 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. Crews used technical rescue equipment to lower themselves and reach the casualty, who was handed over to the care of attending paramedics.”

Crews also worked to contain a leak of approximately 1000 litres of bio-diesel from the vehicle’s fuel tanks. Lanes one and two were reopened by Cheshire Police and the Highways Agency, while the rest of the carriageway remained closed. A Cheshire Police spokesperson said: “Shortly after 6.50pm on Monday 30 September, police were called to reports of an incident on the M6 northbound at Thelwall Viaduct, between junction 20 and 21.

“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. Three lanes remain closed on the northbound carriageway due to serious damage caused to the barrier.

One lane will remain open with a reduced speed limit.” “These lane closures will remain in place for some time, and are expected to continue into the morning. Motorists are advised to avoid the area and find an alternative route during this time.”

Cheshire Police have indicated that the lane closures on the highway are likely to persist throughout the night following the significant collision. Currently, traffic is restricted to just one open lane out of four on the northbound stretch, leading to delays roughly estimated at 45 minutes. A spokesperson for the police mentioned: “Three lanes remain closed on the northbound carriageway due to serious damage caused to the barrier.

One lane will remain open with a reduced speed limit. These lane closures will remain in place for some time, and are expected to continue into the morning. Motorists are advised to avoid the area and find an alternative route during this time.”

According to Traffic England’s latest update, the disruption, described as ‘currently active,’ is not projected to clear until between 11.45am and 12pm today.

References

1. ^ through a barrier before falling off the bridge (www.nottinghampost.com)
2. ^ police (www.nottinghampost.com)
3. ^ partial closures along the M6 (www.nottinghampost.com)
4. ^ was reportedly rescued and taken to hospital (www.nottinghampost.com)