Man dies after fall from M62 bridge

Vehicles travel east on the westbound carriageway of the M62 after being turned around on the closed motorway after an incident at Brown Cow bridge

Surrounding routes became gridlocked and there were reports of delays of up to three hours for some motorists.

Traffic from Manchester heading towards Huddersfield was diverted off through Denshaw and queues stretched back to Junction 21 at Milnrow. Rural lanes were nose-to-tail with cars and lorries.

The motorway was re-opened at just before midday but it was some time before delays cleared.

West Yorkshire Police Duty Inspector Graham Hawcroft said: “At 8.40am we received a call from a member of the public saying that they had seen a man fall from the bridge at Scammonden.

“He had fallen onto the verge next to the carriageway. Officers attended and located him and he was declared dead at the scene.

“His death is not being treated as suspicious and his next of kin have been informed.

“The motorway was re-opened at 11.55am.”

Insp Hawcroft said he was unable to say how old the man was or where he was from at the present time.

The closure of the motorway saw police bringing eastbound drivers off the M62 down the westbound carriageway.

Traffic flows on New Hey Road and Lindley Moor Road were particularly heavy.

This is the latest tragedy at Scammonden Bridge.

A 28-year-old man from Sowerby Bridge died in September and at the end of August police were called when another man fell to his death.

There have been repeated calls for safety measures on the bridge and there are warning signs with contact numbers for the Samaritans.