Lorry falls off motorway bridge causing road closures and major travel delays

Police said the lane closures will be in place "for some time" in both directions on the route.

A lorry has fallen off a motorway bridge taking the road over a river, landing on the ground below and causing huge traffic delays and road closures.

The HGV fell from the Thelwall Viaduct, which carries the M6 motorway across the Manchester Ship Canal and the River Mersey, in Lymm, Warrington, Cheshire.

It is believed to have smashed through a barrier before falling from the bridge, then crashing into the embankment below, The Mirror reports. Police and fire crews have rushed to the scene and remain there with part closures along the M6 in place.

A horrifying image of the aftermath shows the badly damaged vehicle lying on an embankment beneath the motorway, with plumes of smoke rising from the crash site.

The driver is understood to have been rescued and rushed to hospital with injuries that are not thought to be life-threatening. Around 1,000 litres of biodiesel also spilled from the fuel tanks being carried by the vehicle during the collision.

Manchester Evening News reports three lanes remain closed on the northbound carriageway due to serious damage caused to the barrier, while another lane will remain open with a reduced speed limit.

Cheshire Police say the lane closures will be in place "for some time." In a statement the force warned drivers of a "serious collision" in the area.

It said: "Please be aware that a number of lanes are closed on the M6 northbound Thelwall Viaduct between junction 20 and 21, due to a serious collision.

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"The closures are expected to be in place for some time and motorists are advised to avoid the area and find alternative routes." Emergency service crews used specialist rescue equipment to save the HGV driver after the collision this evening.

A Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: "Firefighters were called to reports of a heavy goods vehicle (HGV) that had left the carriageway of the M6 northbound between Junction 20 and 21, close to the Thelwall Viaduct.

"On arrival, they found that a HGV had left the carriageway and overturned on an embankment. Crews used technical rescue equipment to lower themselves and reach the casualty, who was handed over to the care of attending paramedics.

"Crews have applied water to cool the HGV and are using bunding to contain a leak of approximately 1000 litres of bio-diesel from the fuel tanks of the vehicle. While the carraigeway was fully closed, lanes one and two have been re-opened."

A Cheshire Police spokesperson said: "Shortly after 6.50pm on Monday 30 September, police were called to reports of an incident on the M6 northbound at Thelwall Viaduct, between junction 20 and 21.

"Officers attended the scene and found a lorry had come off the carriageway and landed on the embankment below the bridge. The driver of the lorry is not believed to have suffered any life-threatening injuries.

"Three lanes remain closed on the northbound carriageway due to serious damage caused to the barrier. One lane will remain open with a reduced speed limit.

"These lane closures will remain in place for some time, and are expected to continue into the morning. Motorists are advised to avoid the area and find an alternative route during this time."

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