M6 crash in Birmingham causes huge delays
THOUSANDS of motorists faced hours of delays today after a multiple vehicle pile-up on the M6 shut both sides of the motorway.
At least seven people were injured, one seriously, when four light goods vehicles, a van and a car were involved in the “significant collision” just before 6am.
Around six vehicles, believed to be lorries and small goods vehicles, were involved in the pile-up between junctions six and seven southbound, and seven and eight northbound, near Great Barr.
The pile-up meant police had to close the M6 both north and south between Junctions 6 at Spaghetti Junction and Junction 8 at Great Barr.
The move led to long queues forming on surrounding motorways as traffic was taken off and siphoned on to other routes.
The northbound carriageway was re-opened at 3.30pm and the southbound carriageway was expected to remain closed until 7pm for resurfacing works, police said.
Police said the smash happened when two lorries travelling north crashed, sending one spinning cross the central reservation before it overturned on the southbound carriageway.
It was then hit by oncoming traffic, bringing both sides of the motorway to a standstill.
On the northbound carriageway this morning, drivers were taken off at Junction 4 and on to the M42, while those heading south were sent on to the M5.
Commuters trying to get to work in Birmingham from the Black Country faced delays of up to two hours.
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