Lorry crash wreaks roads havoc

Crash scene on the M62 near Milnrow.

A LORRY driver is fighting for his life in hospital after a horror smash on the M62 yesterday.

The lorry, carrying 44 tonnes of butter, smashed into the central reservation on the motorway at around 8.15am between junction 21 and 22 — near Milnrow and Shaw.

The lorry went through to the opposite side of the motorway, colliding with a car, a van and two other lorries.

The lorry driver was airlifted to hospital and is in a critical condition.

The crash caused major delays to traffic with the M62 westbound between junction 24 and junction 21 and eastbound between junction 21 and junction 22 closed.

Queues reportedly stretched back 21 miles. The motorway closure then had a significant knock-on effect on traffic throughout Oldham right into the night with the motorway not completely reopening until before 4am today.

Traffic was diverted through Newhey and Denshaw causing enormous queues well into the night.

Denshaw was heavily congested most of the day with Moorside and Watersheddings also badly affected on Ripponden Road.

Manchester Road was also slow moving into the night as it struggled to cope with diverted traffic.

First Manchester alerted customers that there were delays to a number of its services.

Rochdale was badly affected with traffic reportedly at a standstill in some places.

Drivers stuck in the traffic took to social media.

At 10.28am Steven Woodruff said: “Ripponden Road is at a near standstill both ways.”

At 2pm Kim Thompson said: “We heard it. Wondered what on Earth had happened. The house shook! Hope everyone is OK. Traffic from Milnrow to Shaw is very busy.”

At 3.50pm Julie Ratcliffe said: “Huddersfield Road/Ripponden Road is manic! Stay safe everyone. If you don’t need to make a car journey walk instead.”