Watch the moment lorry crashes through safety barrier and falls off M6 Thelwall Viaduct
Dashcam footage has revealed the moment a lorry crashed through a safety barrier and fell off the Thelwall Viaduct on the M6 on Monday night (September 30). The HGV was sent plummeting down to the ground, landing at the bottom of an embankment around 30 feet below the motorway bridge. The driver, a 56-year-old man, sustained minor injuries in the incident and is set to be discharged from hospital, Cheshire Police have now revealed.
READ MORE Shocking new images of M6 lorry crash emerge as true extent of wreckage revealed[1] The motorway was closed overnight as ‘complex repairs’ to the carriageway began on Tuesday morning (October 1). Dramatic photos taken after the collision showed the true extent of the damage caused to a HGV, which crashed to the ground before overturning.
New footage released by Cheshire Constabulary shows the moment the lorry, travelling in the fourth lane, smashed through the safety barrier and was sent hurtling down to the ground. The lane closures were eventually lifted on Tuesday afternoon after major repairs to the barrier were completed. Police also shared footage of the lorry being recovered from the embankment below the carriageway.
The HGV crashed to the ground and overturned -Credit:MEN Media
An investigation is now ongoing to determine why the crash occurred and how the lorry came to leave the carriageway on Monday night.
Inspector Anton Sullivan, of Cheshire Police, said: “This was a major operation right from the outset, utilising a muti-agency approach with colleagues from NWAS, Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service, Highways, National Highways’ Regional Control Centre, and other departments all working together. “It is remarkable that the driver of the HGV was not more seriously injured, and other road users managed to escape unscathed. This incident had a rapid response and the scene was well managed by officers in dangerous motorway conditions, due to poor visibility and heavy rain.
“The recovery phase of the incident was hampered by poor weather[2] and challenging terrain where the lorry had landed.
The aftermath of the major crash -Credit:Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service
“Police, along with Highways and the specialist recovery agents, have been working all day to recover the vehicle and trailer which were completely destroyed and to repair the damaged railing on top of Thelwall Viaduct, focussing on ensuring safety and a return to normal on the M6 as soon as possible.
“We want to thank members of the public for their patience with the delays that have inevitably occurred as a result of the incident.”
An investigation into the cause of the collision is ongoing and anyone with any relevant footage or information should contact Cheshire Police on 101, or through the Cheshire Police website, quoting IML-1929945.
References
- ^ Shocking new images of M6 lorry crash emerge as true extent of wreckage revealed (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
- ^ weather (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)