Motorists stuck for hours after milk tanker overturned on the motorway
Motorists stuck in queues for hours after tanker carrying 20,000 litres of milk overturned on the motorway
- The milk tanker overturned after crashing into the central reservation on the M6
- Thousands of litres of produce and diesel were spilled, leading to road closure
- Delays were reported on social media of up to three hours around the motorway
Motorists were stuck in huge queues for hours after a tanker carrying 20,000 litres of milk overturned on the M6 motorway.
Thousands of litres of milk and diesel were spilled on the road between junctions 31 and 32 near Preston, Lancashire, after the vehicle hit the central reservation and entered the southbound carriageway, turning onto its side, at around 7am this morning.
The crash also caused travel chaos on nearby roads, including the M61 and M55, as other motorists reported huge delays during the hours-long road closure. The road has since reopened.
Two people, a man and a woman – the driver and passenger – were taken to hospital for treatment. Their current condition is unknown.
Emergency services, including Lancashire Police and the Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service were called out to the scene.
The milk tanker, carrying 20,000 litres of produce, hit the central reservation and entered the southbound carriageway, turning onto its side, at around 7am this morning
Thousands of litres of milk and diesel were spilled on the road between junctions 31 and 32 near Preston, Lancashire
A spokesperson for the fire service said this afternoon: ‘Two fire engines from Preston and Fleetwood are at the scene and the hazardous materials unit and its support fire engine from South Shore.
‘A multi-agency meeting has taken place and firefighters are assisting partner agencies with cleaning the north and southbound carriageways using hose reels’.
The Environment Agency was also called to the scene of the collision is order to ‘assess the impact’ and ensure the continuation of the protection of ‘people and the environment’.
Earlier in the day, Cheif Inspector Patrick Worden, of Lancashire Police, warned motorists to ‘expect the motorway to be closed for some if not most of the day’.
‘The tanker needs to be recovered and due to the large scale milk and diesel spillage, the motorway surface treated appropriately’, he said.
‘We expect this to cause significant delays and I would advise motorists to make plans for alternate routes.’
The force later tweeted: ‘We’re pleased to advise the earlier M6 motorway closure following an overturned milk tanker has now been reopened.’
The vehicle has now been recovered and Lancashire Police have announced that the road has reopened
Diversions were temporarily put in place, but traffic delays around the area remained, with some motorists sharing they had been stuck in traffic for more than three hours on social media.
One wrote: ‘3 hours, so far, to go less than 3 miles on the M55 near Preston. An overturned milk lorry across the central reservation on the M6 is the cause, apparently’.
And another added: ‘During to the closing of the M6, it took us 3 hours to get 40 miles’.
Highways England said: ‘The M6 in Lancashire is closed in both directions between J31 and J33 northbound and J31 and J32 southbound, near Lancaster due to Heavy Goods Vehicle transporting milk overturning, and coming to rest on the central reservation barrier.
‘This has caused a milk spillage across both sides of the carriageway.
‘The M6 J3a and J31 entry slips and the link road from the M55 eastbound to M6 J32 southbound are also closed.
‘Emergency services are in attendance. National Highways Traffic Officers are on scene to provide assistance with traffic management.’
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