Stuck on road to s-nowhere
MORE than 3,500 vehicles were stranded in blizzard conditions on the M62 and surrounding roads as the motorway was closed.
Up to 6,000 people are thought to have been affected with as many as 200 vehicles stranded overnight from Thursday to Friday.
In an unprecedented emergency, police declared a major incident and called in soldiers and mountain rescue teams to assist an evacuation in darkness and driving snow.
The full details of the operation on the highest motorway in England can now be revealed.
The eastbound carriageway out of Greater Manchester was first shut eastbound, heading towards Leeds, between junction 20 at Rochdale and junction 22 for Rishworth Moor due to the weather conditions and a vehicle fire at around 11am on Thursday.
Westbound lanes from Yorkshire were then shut, between junctions 24 and 21, in sub-zero temperatures, creating chaos and danger.
It did temporarily reo- pen westbound on Thursday evening but after several more incidents, including a van overturning in winds up to 90mph, it was closed again with police saying yesterday morning the closure was ‘indefinite’.
At the height of the emergency on Thursday night, around 3,500 vehicles were stuck on the eastbound stretch, unable to move.
The central reservation barrier was cut and the vast majority were directed down the westbound carriageway and into Greater Manchester, although as many as 200 vehicles were stranded on the motorway.
Assistant Chief Constable Robert Potts said soldiers from the Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment, based in Preston, were brought in.
They worked alongside mountain rescue teams and firefighters to reach people in need, with those classed as vulnerable assessed first.
One family with a baby was taken away in a police car.
Soldiers were in 4X4 vehicles and were specialist military drivers.
Police and volunteers brought food and drink for those stranded ahead of an incredible response from the communities in Milnrow and Newhey.
“Many people wanted to stay with their vehicles and if they were safe to do so, obviously that was fine,” said Assistant Chief Constable Potts.
“We were seeking to make sure no one was placed in significant harm.”
A hardy band of 20 HGV drivers opted to remain on the M62 throughout.
They chose to stay with their vehicles until the motorway reopened, despite being offered police assistance to drive away.
The motorway was finally reopened at 2am on Saturday.
But why did things get so bad?
A police source said that a multi-vehicle crash on Thursday, horrendous weather conditions and drivers ignoring warnings to avoid closed roads and the motorway created a perfect storm.
The source added that many drivers attempted to travel on impassable routes despite numerous warnings. Once they became stuck, it was too late.
Assistant Chief Constable Potts said: “Too many people drove past ‘road closed’ signs and