Rush-hour chaos after nine-car crash
Reporter: Beatriz Ayala
Date published: 19 January 2010
TRAFFIC chaos brought rush-hour motorists to a standstill following a nine-car collision in Huddersfield Road yesterday — the second multi-vehicle pile up in four days.
The incident happened at 4.45pm near the Tesco Extra supermarket heading away from Oldham town centre.
However, town centre drivers were still struggling to move over an hour and a half later.
Five vehicles involved in the collision, a Renault Megane, Mini Cooper, Ford Galaxy, Peugeot 206 and Peugeot 607, were recovered as they were too damaged to drive.
It is believed one person was treated in their car for injuries.
Police diverted drivers away from the scene but there were no road closures.
The collision saw tailbacks stretching back along Huddersfield Road, past Mumps roundabout and back into the town centre.
One driver, who did not want to be identified, said: “Mumps roundabout was gridlocked while Huddersfield Road was at a complete standstill.
“It was a real nightmare and I could see other motorists getting really irate.
“We didn’t know what was going on.”
Police inquiries are ongoing.
This latest incident follows the 25-vehicle pile up that hit rush-hour drivers last Friday.
On that occasion, black ice caused a chain of collisions on the frozen A627 at Chadderton just before 8am.
Seven people were hurt, including a 46-year-old man who suffered a broken leg and a 39-year-old woman who sustained head and chest injuries.
