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Crash shuts M6 motorway in Birmingham 'for several hours' Crash shuts M6 motorway in Birmingham for several hours
(about 1 hour later)
Part of the M6 motorway in Birmingham is closed in both directions after a lorry crashed and crossed the central reservation. Part of the M6 motorway in Birmingham was closed for several hours in both directions after a lorry crashed and crossed the central reservation.
The southbound carriageway is expected to be shut until 22:00 BST. The Highways Agency said two northbound lanes may open by evening rush hour. The southbound carriageway remains closed but is expected to reopen shortly and Highways England said the northbound lanes opened at about 17:15.
The lorry crashed with a car and a van between junction six at Spaghetti Junction and junction seven at Great Barr at 10:30.The lorry crashed with a car and a van between junction six at Spaghetti Junction and junction seven at Great Barr at 10:30.
The van driver was seriously hurt.The van driver was seriously hurt.
Motorist Mike Jones, who witnessed the collision, said he heard a loud bang.
"I was driving to Coventry and I had just gone through the Great Barr junction, at junction 7, and there was an almighty bang and I thought 'oh my god what's that?'.
"All of a sudden I noticed this truck which had gone through the central reservation and a very, very badly knocked about pick-up truck."
'Some considerable time''Some considerable time'
The northbound carriageway is closed at junction six and a rolling closure is in place on the southbound stretch while debris is recovered from the carriageway and repairs are carried out. The northbound carriageway was closed at junction six and a rolling closure was in place on the southbound stretch while debris was recovered from the carriageway and repairs were carried out.
Congestion is stretching back to junction five at Castle Bromwich and junction 10 for Wolverhampton. Congestion stretched back to junction five at Castle Bromwich and junction 10 for Wolverhampton.
West Midlands Ambulance Service said: "A man in his forties driving the van suffered chest, back and pelvic injuries together with a fractured arm. James Hawkes from Highways England said repairs were made to the barrier on the northbound carriageway before it was reopened.
But he said the southbound carriageway would remain shut because of a diesel spillage.
He said some of the delay was down to the incident initially being treated as a crime scene, so workers were not allowed full access to conduct repairs until police investigations were complete.
Driver Robert Murray, who witnessed the rescue operation from his car, described the scene as "busy".
"There's a lorry that's come through the central reservation barrier... [there's] fire engines, a few police vehicles, fire engines on our side of the junction and fire engine and specialist equipment on the opposite side of the junction and a pick-up truck and ambulances."
West Midlands Ambulance Service said: "A man in his 40s driving the van suffered chest, back and pelvic injuries together with a fractured arm.
"He was immobilised with the use of a neck collar and spinal board and given pain relief.""He was immobilised with the use of a neck collar and spinal board and given pain relief."
The service said he was taken to Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, and described his injuries as "serious". The service said he was taken to Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham and described his injuries as "serious".
"The lorry driver was treated for chest pain and taken by ambulance to the City Hospital for further assessment and treatment," it said."The lorry driver was treated for chest pain and taken by ambulance to the City Hospital for further assessment and treatment," it said.
"A man travelling as a passenger in the car received minor injuries and was taken to Sandwell Hospital for assessment.""A man travelling as a passenger in the car received minor injuries and was taken to Sandwell Hospital for assessment."
The Highways Agency said the road the recovery operation was likely "to be protracted" and could extend into the late afternoon and "potentially into the early evening". The Highways Agency said the recovery operation was likely "to be protracted" and could extend into the late afternoon and "potentially into the early evening".
It advised fans heading to Villa Park for the Aston Villa match against Manchester United to seek an alternative route.It advised fans heading to Villa Park for the Aston Villa match against Manchester United to seek an alternative route.
Motorist Mark Liddell told BBC Midlands Today he spent an hour-and-a-half trying to get on to the M6 from the M5 as he travelled from Bromsgrove in Worcestershire to Aston in Birmingham, describing the situation as "havoc".Motorist Mark Liddell told BBC Midlands Today he spent an hour-and-a-half trying to get on to the M6 from the M5 as he travelled from Bromsgrove in Worcestershire to Aston in Birmingham, describing the situation as "havoc".