Two M6 lorry drivers hurt in separate crashes hours apart

Two lorry drivers have been left injured after separate crashes - hours apart - on the M6 today. Rush hour drivers faced long delays and huge tailbacks on the motorway after two incidents close to one another.[1] The first incident saw a lorry driver seriously injured in a collision between J6 Spaghetti Junction and J5 Castle Bromwich.

Drivers were warned of 'long delays' as emergency services closed the carriageway for several hours to investigate the serious crash.[2] The motorist remained in hospital while drivers were warned of further "major disruption" to the M6 this evening. Though the southbound carriageway reopened at 6pm, a full overnight closure will take place to "allow vehicle recovery".

Drivers were told to consider taking a different route. M6 drivers already faced travel chaos at rush hour today as, while the motorway was shut, a second lorry driver travelling between J7 Walsall[4] and J6 "came off the road and crashed". The incident, which took place shortly before 3pm, saw the second motorist hospitalised but not seriously hurt.

He suffered injuries not thought to be serious and was taken to hospital. Of the second collision, West Midlands Ambulance Service[5] said: "We were called to reports of an RTC on the M6 Southbound between junctions 7 and 6 near Great Barr at around 2.45pm. "An ambulance, two paramedic officers, a MERIT trauma doctor and critical care paramedic and the Trust's Hazardous Area Response Team were sent to the scene where, on arrival, crews discovered a lorry had come off the road and crashed.

"The driver, a man, was treated by crews for injuries not believed to be serious and taken to Walsall Manor Hospital for further treatment." Three of the four lanes were closed between J7 and J6 while the road was cleared.

At the peak of the closures, around rush hour, drivers were shown to be stuck in huge queues. The traffic was said to have eased at 6pm as the closure around J6 and J5 was lifted. However, the M6 southbound will be closed again overnight between J6 and J5 "due to the severity of the incident." In the latest update at 7pm, National Highways warned: "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." Have you been affected by these incidents?

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References

1. ^ two incidents close to one another. (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
2. ^ several hours to investigate the serious crash. (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
3. ^ M6 crash live as Birmingham rush hour drivers face long delays after two crashes hours apart (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
4. ^ Walsall (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
5. ^ West Midlands Ambulance Service (www.birminghammail.co.uk)