Dramatic moment lorry plunges off Thelwall viaduct

This is the dramatic moment a lorry plunged off the Thelwall viaduct and fell 60ft onto the embankment below.

Dashcam footage showed the moment the vehicle crashed through the barrier on the northbound carriageway of the M6 in the heavy rain and fell from the viaduct. 

Police said it was 'remarkable' no one was seriously hurt and confirmed the driver of the lorry, a 56-year-old man, is not believed to have suffered any life-changing or life-threatening injuries.

He was taken to hospital following the incident and is set to be discharged with suspected minor injuries. 

Three of the four northbound motorway lanes were closed after the massive collision between junction 20 and 21 at 6.50pm on Monday, but they were all reopened by Tuesday afternoon.

The road was able to operate again after repair work was carried out to the barrier and police worked with recovery agents to move the lorry from the embankment.

The Thelwall Viaduct carries the M6 over the River Mersey and the Manchester Ship Canal to the east of Warrington and reaches a maximum height of 28m above the water.

Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service used water to cool the lorry and stopped a leak of around 1,000 litres of fuel from the vehicle. 

Fire crews used rescue equipment to lower themselves to the driver, who was handed over to the care of attending paramedics. 

The emergency response included a rescue boat from Warrington, a helicopter from Lymm and five fire engines.

Images from the scene show the police recovery vehicle taking away the lorry which had completely crumpled in the crash.

Inspector Anton Sullivan said: 'This was a major operation right from the outset, utilising a muti-agency approach with colleagues from NWAS, Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service, Highways, National Highways' Regional Control Centre, and other departments all working together.

'It is remarkable that the driver of the HGV was not more seriously injured, and other road users managed to escape unscathed.

'This incident had a rapid response and the scene was well managed by officers in dangerous motorway conditions, due to poor visibility and heavy rain.

'The recovery phase of the incident was hampered by poor weather and challenging terrain where the lorry had landed.

'Police, along with Highways and the specialist recovery agents, have been working all day to recover the vehicle and trailer which were completely destroyed and to repair the damaged railing on top of Thelwall Viaduct, focussing on ensuring safety and a return to normal on the M6 as soon as possible.

'We want to thank members of the public for their patience with the delays that have inevitably occurred as a result of the incident.'

Following the crash, one lane remained open with a reduced speed limit as police have advised motorists to avoid the area.

A Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said after the crash yesterday: 'Firefighters were called to reports of a heavy goods vehicle (HGV) that had left the carriageway of the M6 northbound between Junction 20 and 21, close to the Thelwall Viaduct.

'On arrival, they found that a HGV had left the carriageway and overturned on an embankment.

'Crews used technical rescue equipment to lower themselves and reach the casualty, who was handed over to the care of attending paramedics.

'Crews have applied water to cool the HGV and are using bunding to contain a leak of approximately 1000 litres of bio-diesel from the fuel tanks of the vehicle.

'While the carriageway was fully closed, lanes one and two have been re-opened by Cheshire Police and the Highways Agency.'

An investigation into the cause of the collision is ongoing and anyone within information can contact Cheshire Police on 101, or through the Cheshire Police website, quoting IML-1929945.