M6 crash: Motorway reopens after 20,000 litres of milk spilled on carriageway by overturned tanker
Milk and diesel was spilled across both sides of a stretch of the motorway in Lancashire after a tanker crashed and overturned - causing delays of up to two hours.
Sunday 2 July 2023 17:28, UK
A large section of the M6 has been reopened in both directions after a tanker crashed and spilled 20,000 litres of milk.
The truck hit the central reservation while travelling northbound at around 7am today in Lancashire. The incident led to severe delays of up to two hours for motorists.
A male driver and a female passenger in the vehicle were taken to hospital for treatment.
Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service said some 20,000 litres of milk were spilled across all lanes on the northbound carriageway. This was compounded by a diesel spillage on the southbound carriageway.
As a result, the M6 was shut in both directions between junction 31 and junction 33 northbound and junction 31 and junction 32 southbound near Lancaster.
Chief Inspector Patrick Worden, of Lancashire Police, earlier warned drivers to expect the motorway to be closed for some if not most of the day.
The force then tweeted: "We're pleased to advise the earlier M6 motorway closure following an overturned milk tanker has now been reopened.
"Traffic is expected to be slow moving and congested for some time so please avoid the area where possible."
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There were also severe delays of 120 minutes on the M55 eastbound between J3 and J1 and 60 minutes on the M61 northbound between J9 and M6.