A driver died in a crash on one of Wolverhampton’s main roads which caused mayhem during the rush hour today.
See also: Traffic smash on the A449
A Toyota Aygo is thought to have skidded across the A449 Stafford Road in Fordhouses and struck a Fiat Punto and a lorry travelling out of the city.
Police said this afternoon the male driver of the Toyota had died after being airlifted to hospital.
His identity has not yet been released as his relatives were being given the news.
The accident, which happened shortly before 7.30am caused chaos on the dual carriageway in both directions and motorists trying to get off the M54 at junction two were caught in severe congestion.
The Highways Agency was forced to close junction two to motorists travelling from Birmingham. It reopened at around 1pm.
Police redirected drivers back on to the M54 to enter Wolverhampton at Junction One, the A460 Cannock Road, causing two-mile tailbacks between the two junctions.
A passenger in the Punto, Dean Greenway, aged 29, told how he and friend Laura Broom, who was driving, had a lucky escape.
The pair were travelling to Birmingham where they work at Yellow Pages.
“We were pretty lucky and are just coming out of shock,” he said. “I had to have stitches in my nose because I hit a flask, I was drinking at the time, and we’ve both got whiplash.”
Hundreds of drivers were caught up in the aftermath of the accident as emergency crews dealt with the scene.
Emma Partridge, a worker at Birmingham Midshires at Wobaston Road, Pendeford, said many staff were caught in queues. “It mainly affected colleagues that use the M54, but it also took me 40 minutes to get in from Tettenhall, a journey that usually takes a few minutes,” she said.
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