M57 slip road blocked after tanker overturns

Emergency services descended onto a busy slip road on the M57 ^[1]after a tanker is believed to have overturned. The vehicle is believed to have overturned heading northbound before joining the motorway at junction four, with a witness telling the ECHO^[2] it hit the barrier before police, fire crews and paramedics rushed to the scene.

Merseyside Police^[3] confirmed to the ECHO that officers are on the scene, with North West Motorway Police leading the road closure, while Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service^[4] and North West Ambulance Service^[5] are assisting with the incident. The incident, involving no other vehicles, took place on the road leaving Knowsley^[6] Industrial Estate at around 10.25am.

The witness said: “It happened on the slip road coming onto the motorway from Knowsley Industrial Estate by the big roundabout. I saw the lorry go over onto its side and smash into the barrier, it was a big tanker. The lorry was going towards Switch Island.”

A spokesperson for Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service confirmed the incident is ongoing, with the driver being “extracted from the vehicle”. In a statement issued to the ECHO, the service said: “Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service is in attendance at an incident near junction five of the M57 northbound, Kirkby^[7].

“Crews were alerted at 10.28 and two fire engines and the search and rescue team were on scene shortly after. Merseyside Police, North West Ambulance Service (NWAS), Air Ambulance and National Highways are also in attendance.

“On arrival crews found a road traffic collision involving one HGV that is overturned. A driver remained in the vehicle while being checked over by NWAS. Merseyside Police are managing road closures and the driver has been extracted from the vehicle by fire crews. “The incident is ongoing, please avoid the area.” North West Ambulance Service was approached for comment.

Travel Monitor Inrix states: “M57 Northbound entry slip road closed, queueing traffic due to overturned vehicle at M57 J5 / A580 (East Lancs Road) Knowsley. Lane closure on Junction 5 Main stretch back to Junction 4 due to overturned vehicle accident.”

References

1. ^{^} M57 (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
2. ^{^} ECHO (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
3. ^{^} Merseyside Police (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
4. ^{^} Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
5. ^{^} North West Ambulance Service (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
6. ^{^} Knowsley (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
7. ^{^} Kirkby (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)