A driver died and a man has been arrested after two lorries crashed on the M6.

The incident happened out-side the RAC control centre at 12.30am today.

Firefighters believe the 27-year-old lorry driver who died was Dutch and appeared to have “inexplicably” driven into the back of another heavy goods vehicle.

The driver and passenger in the other lorry were unharmed. A 38-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.

During the rush hour, there were delays of at least 40 minutes as the northbound carriageway was closed between Junction 7 at Great Barr and Junction 9 at Wednesbury.

Traffic on the M6 at 7am was stationary on the three miles between Junction 7 and Spaghetti Junction.

The M6 was closed until 7.45am.

The crash happened on the northbound side of the carriageway, near where four men were killed in a crash involving a car going in the wrong direction at the weekend.

Watch commander Lee Walker of West Bromwich Fire Station said: “One lorry inexplicably went into the other.

“The other driver was talking to firefighters and appeared to be physically unharmed, although he will clearly be very shaken.”