M62 HORROR
HGV CABS COLLIDE MAN ‘CRITICAL’ SIX-HOUR DELAYS 20-MILE TAILBACKS
A man is in a critical condition in hospital after a horrific crash which saw two heavy goods vehicles plough through the central reservation of the M62 in Calderdale.
The smash happened westbound between junction 23 Outlane and junction 22 at Rishworth Moor at 2.30pm on Wednesday and involved two red Volvo HGV cab units which were travelling in the same direction.
Both of the male drivers had to be freed from their cabs by firefighters, and the Yorkshire Air Ambulance transported one to Leeds General Infirmary with serious head injuries following the accident which closed the motorway for six hours.
The 48-year-old man was unconscious, but breathing, at the scene and his condition in hospital is described as “critical but stable”.
The other driver suffered minor injuries and was taken to Oldham Royal Infirmary for treatment.
Police have now issued a witness appeal following the crash and said initial enquiries suggest that one of the HGVs collided with the rear of the second vehicle, causing both to cross the central reservation and enter the eastbound carriageway.
PC Nigel Fawcett-Jones, of the Western Area Safer Roads and Neighbourhood Support Department, said: “Enquiries are ongoing in what was a major incident on the M62 which caused severe delays on the network.
“Both vehicles involved in the collision were distinctive Volvo red cabbed units with no body work and which were travelling on trade plates to have tipper bodies fitted.
“I would like to speak to anyone who saw the manner in which the lorries were being driven prior to the collision or who saw the collision itself.”
Because of the extensive damage to the central reservation, specialist teams had to be called out from the Highways Agency to help with the removal of the HGVs from the scene.
That meant the motorway was closed for six hours, leading to huge delays, with a reported 20 miles of tailbacks.
Roads around Calderdale leading to the motorway were also badly disrupted along with bus services.
PC Fawcett-Jones added: “This was clearly a large incident which required extensive collision investigation work at the scene and also painstaking work to remove the vehicles from the scene.
“The reopening of the motorway was also delayed due to specialist teams from the Highways Agency having to attend to release the tension in the wire rope barrier prior to recovery taking place.”
Firefighters from Elland and Huddersfield and the technical rescue unit from Cleckheaton were deployed and assisted paramedics in freeing the men.
Three crews from Greater Manchester were on standby at the scene along with ambulances from Yorkshire and the North West. West Yorkshire Fire Service’s senior advisor at the scene, Toby May, said: “Our technical rescue crews worked quickly and effectively alongside Yorkshire Ambulance Service to release the casualties. This incident resulted in long tailbacks on the M62 well into the afternoon but this was unavoidable.”
Anyone who has information about the crash is asked to contact PC 6625 Pursey of the Western Area SRNSD on 101.