Traffic chaos on M62 and M60 after serious crash with paramedics at the scene

Traffic chaos has hit the M62 this morning following a major crash[1] which shuttered multiple lanes of the major motorway. Emergency services[2] were called to the scene of the crash during rush hour, with "severe delays" hitting the stretch from after 9am. Authorities have closed three lanes of traffic following the collision on the M62 eastbound between junctions 18 and 19, near Heywood and Middleton.

In an initial update on Inrix, a traffic monitoring service, officials warned of "severe delays" as "all traffic[3]" was temporarily held across several lanes. The update read: "Severe delays and three lanes closed due to accident on M62 Eastbound from J18 M66 J4 (Simister Island) to J19 A6046 Middleton Road (Heywood). Lanes one two and three (of four)."

A further post said: "All traffic being temporarily held and stationary traffic due to accident on M62 Eastbound from J18 M66 J4 (Simister Island) to J19 A6046 Middleton Road (Heywood).

Congestion to M60 J14 (Swinton Interchange). All traffic was held around 09.15am." Greater Manchester[5] Police said in a statement to Manchester Evening News[6] that at least four vehicles, a van and several cars, were involved in the crash.

North West Ambulance Service also attended, with roads opening and closing since the incident took place. Traffic was stopped at 9.15am after emergency services arrived. National Highways confirmed a full closure and later added one lane had reopened at around 10am, but this was eventually closed again later this morning.

Highways England reports: "The M62 is closed eastbound between Junction 18 (M60, M66) and Junction 19 (Middleton) due to a collision."

"Greater Manchester Police are in attendance. Delays are likely on approach to the closure and diversion routes." Google[7] Maps showed massive queues stretching across the M60 clockwise and back to the M61 at Kearsley. Queues have also formed on the M62 westbound on the approach to the crash scene, with the M61 southbound approaching the M60 also affected.

Traffic cameras monitoring the scene showed the chaos starting to subside around 11am, with the motorway partially opening to allow two lanes of traffic to pass.

Footage shows vehicles beginning the slow crawl beyond the crash scene.

References

1. ^ crash (www.mirror.co.uk)
2. ^ Emergency services (www.mirror.co.uk)
3. ^ traffic (www.mirror.co.uk)
4. ^ Lorry ploughs into back of learner driver in 'nightmare' lesson crash (www.mirror.co.uk)
5. ^ Manchester (www.mirror.co.uk)
6. ^ Manchester Evening News (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
7. ^ Google (www.mirror.co.uk)