MAYHEM FOLLOWS MOTORWAY SMASH:
A COACH carrying children left the embankment on a notorious stretch of Runcorn motorway leading to another crash in which an OAP suffered ‘multiple injuries’ when his car was involved in a collision with a fire engine in Frodsham.
The bus left the M56 westbound shortly before 9.39am on Monday between junction 12 at Clifton and 14 at Helsby.
Cheshire police said the incident involved a van, whose driver suffered what appeared to be ‘minor injuries’.
However, she said the children had avoided physical harm.
As emergency services made their way to the scene, a fire engine was involved in a collision with a car on Bridge Lane in Frodsham at 9.55am.
Cheshire Fire And Rescue Service said crews cut the motorist free and he was airlifted to hospital as a ‘precautionary measure’,
A North West Ambulance Service spokeswoman said the elderly driver had suffered ‘multiple injuries’ and was taken to Aintree Hospital.
She added that ‘a lot’ of resources were deployed to the collision.
Pictures sent to the Weekly News by Phil Lamb showed the car’s badly crumpled bodywork with the roof missing.
Cheshire police said the 77-year-old was in a ‘serious but stable’ condition at time of writing on Tuesday.
Mr Lamb also captured an image of emergency services at the scene on the M56 with the coach tilted down the embankment.
Gridlock ensued on the road network as two lanes shut on the M56 and traffic diverted through Frodsham then became stuck behind the second collision.
A fire service spokeswoman an extra fire engine was deployed to make sure service was not reduced.
The M56 between Runcorn and Helsby has gained a notorious reputation in recent years following several fatal collisions, industrial incidents and what is perceived by many to be frequent crashes and delays.
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