Lorry driver killed in M6 crash near Scottish border ‘was beloved husband and father’
A lorry driver who died in a horror crash[1] on the main road link between Scotland and England has been named.
Costica Balan, 63, was tragically pronounced dead at the scene near Gretna[2] on Thursday, October 2.
Emergency services raced to the M6 at junction 45 after receiving reports of the collision on the northbound carriageway at 6.42am[3]. Advertisement Advertisement
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Police[4] subsequently closed the M6 in both directions between the Scottish border and Carlisle, as well as the A74(M), with queues of traffic for miles leading up to the scene.
Surrounding routes, including the A7, were also gridlocked[5] following the incident on the northbound carriageway.
A significant emergency services presence was at the scene.
Several other vehicles on the motorway were also affected by damage and debris from the crash[6].
Costica, from Spalding, Lincolnshire, was originally from Romania[7] but had lived in the UK for 16 years, working as an HGV driver.
His family[8] said he was a "beloved husband and father who will be dearly missed by everyone". Advertisement
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Footage[9] taken of the scene from a passenger in a vehicle travelling over a bridge above show the northbound lanes blocked by emergency services just before the sign marking the Scottish border.
Wreckage[10] from the lorry is visible next to the central reservation barrier.
The M6 reopened to traffic[11] in both directions at around 5.40pm, with the A74(M) initially reopening two lanes southbound before later returning to normal.
Anyone with any information[12] regarding the collision can call 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111, or via Cumbria Police's online reporting tool.
References
- ^ horror crash (uk.news.yahoo.com)
- ^ Gretna (www.dailyrecord.co.uk)
- ^ collision on the northbound carriageway at 6.42am (uk.news.yahoo.com)
- ^ Police (uk.news.yahoo.com)
- ^ gridlocked (www.dailyrecord.co.uk)
- ^ crash (www.dailyrecord.co.uk)
- ^ Romania (uk.news.yahoo.com)
- ^ family (www.dailyrecord.co.uk)
- ^ Footage (uk.news.yahoo.com)
- ^ Wreckage (www.dailyrecord.co.uk)
- ^ traffic (www.dailyrecord.co.uk)
- ^ information (www.dailyrecord.co.uk)