Two injured as van and lorry collide on M6 during rush hour

A van carrying six people was left seriously damaged after it collided with a lorry between Junction 14 for Stafford and Junction 13 for the A449 during the evening rush hour.

The lorry driver was uninjured but two of the van passengers were taken to hospital.

Traffic was briefly stopped in both directions when an air ambulance arrived at around 5.45pm, however the helicopter turned away without landing and northbound lanes were soon back moving.

Staffordshire firefighters, an emergency doctor and three West Midlands ambulances were on the scene.

West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman Murray MacGregor said: "When crews arrived, they found the front passenger side door of the van was hanging off and the vehicle had considerable front nearside damage.

"The 28-year-old man sitting in the front passenger seat was complaining of lower limb pain and abdominal pain; he also had some breathing difficulties.

"He was able to climb out himself but was immobilised as a precaution.

"He was taken to Royal Stoke University Hospital by ambulance with the doctor travelling with him.

"A woman in her 20s, who was in the middle of the rear seat, had suffered facial injuries and was taken to the same hospital, also by ambulance."

Southbound traffic was released at 6.10pm but one lane remained closed until 6.35pm, with Highways England describing the collision as 'serious'.

Earlier on Tuesday afternoon, there were delays further south on the M6 after an accident blocked one lane between Junction 10 at Walsall and Junction 10a of the M54.

Ongoing roadworks along the motorway have also added to the congestion.

Lanes have been reduced and a speed restriction of 40mph has been put in place on the M6 southbound between junction eight on the M5, in West Bromwich, and junction seven of the A34 in Great Barr

The latest crash comes one day after an overturned lorry caused major delays for drivers in the region and damaged four cars.

The lorry overturned, shed its load of metal and spilled more than 100 litres of diesel at around 7.30am yesterday, making the northbound M6 'unsafe for road users', according to Highways England bosses.

Drivers faced severe delays northbound between junctions 10, for Walsall, and 13, for Stafford, after the lanes were closed following the spillage.

The delays were so severe they stretched back to Junction 10 in Walsall, 13 miles away.