Lorry crashes into central reservation on busy motorway causing rush hour chaos

A driver has been hospitalised after a lorry crashed into the central reservation of a busy motorway.

The crash happened on the M6 at about 1.30pm on the northbound carriageway near Preston.

It caused a ‘large diesel spillage’ which is affecting all lanes of the northbound carriageway and has forced one lane of the southbound to close, National Highways say.

Emergency services are still at the scene, including the fire service who are helping to clean up the diesel spillage.

There are miles-long queues on the approach to the scene as rush hour traffic starts to build, and the northbound side of the motorway is expected to remain closed for the rest of the day.

Drivers are experiencing severe delays on the M6, which is having a knock-on effect on the nearby M55 and M61.

The lorry driver has been taken to hospital, Lancashire Police said.

In their most recent update, National Highways said: ‘The M6 in Lancashire remains closed northbound between junction 31 and 32 near Preston following a collision involving a lorry.

‘Due to a significant diesel spill, the road is expected to remain closed all day.

‘Lane four is also closed southbound due to barrier damage.

‘Severe delays.

‘The vehicle has now been recovered. We’re working to clean a significant diesel spillage but expecting that a full resurfacing operation will be required.’

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