Part of M6 closed overnight after lorry veers off motorway and crashes with ‘almighty screech’

M6 drivers will face 'major disruption' as a section of the motorway is closed off overnight to recover the wreckage of a crashed lorry. A dramatic photo captures the HGV virtually upside-down on the roadside after veering off the motorway. The motorist was taken to Walsall[1] Manor Hospital with injuries not thought to be serious after he "came off the road and crashed" on Thursday afternoon (Jan 11).

A witness told how she heard an "almighty screech" before watching the heavy goods vehicle smash through the fence and crash down the embankment. National Highways shared the astonishing picture, taken as emergency services worked at the scene between J7 Walsall and J6 Spaghetti Junction. Ambulances had been called to the motorway at around 2.45pm, with three of the four lanes closed for several hours.

One motorist who witnessed the crash said: "I actually saw this happen on the other side of the road! There was an almighty screech and then the lorry crashed into the fence and down the embankment! Such a scary thing to see!"

The M6 between J7 and J6 will be fully closed off from around 8pm overnight while highways workers clear the lorry wreckage "due to the severity of the incident." Motorists were warned to take alternative routes or follow a diversion. Drivers travelling at rush hour already faced travel chaos today as the carriageway was closed off for several hours. And motorists had faced additional delays in the area due to a separate crash on the M6 between J6 and J5.

In the first collision, at around 10.30am, the lorry driver crashed and was 'seriously hurt'. He remained in hospital on Thursday evening. West Midlands Roads warned of "major disruption" as it urged drivers to consider taking a different route while clearing up the second lorry.

Informing motorists of the diversion for the clean-up, they wrote: "Currently, 1 lane is closed with 3 lanes operational.

"However, due to the severity of the incident, a full overnight closure of the southbound M6 will go into effect later this evening to allow for vehicle recovery. Consider alternative routes or travel options. "Due to the closure tonight, vehicles will be diverted via J7: A34 Southbound to Newtown Middleway, A4540 Eastbound to Dartmouth Circus, A38(M) Northbound to re-join #M6[3] at J6.

Expect more traffic and delays than usual." West Midlands Police[4] confirmed the driver of the lorry involved in the first incident sustained serious injuries. A spokeswoman for the force[5] read: "The driver of the lorry has serious injuries and remains in hospital."

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References

1. ^ Walsall (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
2. ^ Two M6 lorry drivers hurt in separate crashes hours apart with warning over 'major disruption' (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
3. ^ #M6 (twitter.com)
4. ^ West Midlands Police (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
5. ^ the force (www.birminghammail.co.uk)