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M6 LIVE: Motorway closed with severe delays after lorry crash in Cheshire

The M6 is closed between J17 - J18 after a serious crash in Cheshire today (Tuesday, September 7).
The M6 is closed between J17 - J18 after a serious crash in Cheshire today (Tuesday, September 7)The M6 is closed between J17 - J18 after a serious crash in Cheshire today (Tuesday, September 7)
The M6 is closed between J17 - J18 after a serious crash in Cheshire today (Tuesday, September 7)

There are currently delays of around two-and-a-half hours in both directions and over 9 miles of queueing traffic due to the emergency closure near Holmes Chapel this afternoon.

The motorway remains closed whilst police accident investigators work at the scene.

You can follow the latest updates in our live blog...

M6 LIVE: Motorway closed with severe delays after lorry hits railway bridge in Cheshire

Key Events

  • The M6 is closed northbound between J17 - J18 near Holmes Chapel due to a serious lorry crash
  • Delays of over 120 minutes and 9 miles of congestion on approach to the northbound closure
  • Diversion route also very heavily congested
  • Police have confirmed the driver of the HGV has died

Latest update from National Highways

Police have confirmed the driver of the HGV, a man in his 60s, has died

Police were called to the collision on the northbound carriageway at around 8.05am today (September 7).

Officers discovered a blue and white HGV had collided with a railway bridge between junctions 17 (Sandbach) and 18 (Middlewich).

The driver, a man in his 60s, was pronounced dead at the scene.

His next of kin have been informed.

A spokesman for Cheshire Police said: “Enquiries in relation to the incident are ongoing and officers are keen to hear from anyone who witnessed the collision, or anyone with any CCTV or dashcam footage which may aid the investigation.”

Anyone with any information about the incident can contact police by calling 101, quoting IML 1079063.

You can also visit www.cheshire.police.uk/tua.

The following diversion is in place:

Follow solid diamond:

Exit at junction 17 and travel eastbound on A534.

Turn left onto A50 and travel north.

Please note there is a low bridge 4.8m / 16’0” prior to A54.

At Holmes Chapel turn left onto A54, travel west and re-join M6 at junction 18.

Police-led investigation to be carried out at scene as spillage of 800 litres of diesel cleared

National Highways is advising drivers that the M6 remains closed northbound between junction 17 (Sandbach) and junction 18 (Sproston Green) following a serious incident.

The northbound carriageway is not expected to reopen before this evening’s peak traffic hours because a police-led investigation will be carried out at the scene and a spillage of 800 litres of diesel is also being cleared.

The three-vehicle collision occurred at 8.07am this morning. A bridge column was also struck during the incident.

There is a two-hour delay stretching back 6.5 miles on the approach to the scene. All trapped traffic has been released by temporarily opening lane 4 and also turning around vehicles.

The northbound carriageway will need to be closed for some time and we would advise road users to avoid travelling in the local area and use alternative routes if possible.

National Highways Traffic Operations Manager Chris Martin

Everything we know so far...

You can read our full report here, with statements from Highways and police.

Motorists told to use M42, M1 and the M62

Road users travelling northbound from further afield are advised to use the M42, M1 and the M62 if travelling to the northwest.

People trapped in tailbacks for nearly 3 hours

One motorist said: “We’re between J16 & 17 and so far been more or less stationary for 2.5 hrs. Nothing is moving.”

Congestion back to J16 and delays affecting diversion routes and surrounding towns

Congestion back to J16 (Stoke On Trent / Crewe) as well as delays through Talke, Nantwich Sandbach and Middlewich as traffic avoids the motorway.

M6 crash Cheshire: Lorry hit railway bridge half early this morning.

Highway say a lorry hit the railway bridge about half way between the junctions 17 and 18 early this morning.

Second M6 crash near Lancaster

All traffic is being temporarily held due to an overturned vehicle on M6 Northbound from J35 A683 (Lancaster) to J35 A601(M) Carnforth. All traffic has been stopped.

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