Lorry driver discharged with minor injuries after 60-foot motorway bridge fall

Police said it was “remarkable” no one was seriously hurt after the HGV plummeted from the bridge

A HGV driver whose lorry fell more than 60 feet from a motorway bridge is set to be discharged from hospital with only minor injuries, police have said. Police said it was “remarkable” no one was seriously hurt after the HGV left the northbound carriageway of the M6 at the Thelwall Viaduct in Cheshire shortly before 7pm on Monday.

Dashcam footage showed the moment the vehicle crashed through the barrier in the heavy rain and fell from the viaduct, landing on the embankment below. A spokesman for Cheshire Police said: “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.”

The road was reopened on Tuesday afternoon after repair work was carried out to the barrier and police worked with recovery agents to move the lorry from the embankment below. Inspector Anton Sullivan said: “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, focusing 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.”

Fire crews used rescue equipment to lower themselves and rescue the driver on Monday night, also working to stop a leak of around 1,000 litres of fuel from the vehicle.

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.