M6 crash causes commuter chaos

A multiple pile-up on the M6, in which two people were injured, brought rush hour misery to commuters in Staffordshire.

Cars and lorries were bumper to bumper on the northbound carriageway from junction 11, at Shareshill, through Cannock and all the way into Stafford as the motorway remained closed for most of yesterday afternoon.

It was 5pm before police were able to re-open two lanes of the carriageway between junctions 13 and 14, Stafford South and North after the accident which involved a car and three lorries.

A woman believed to be in her 20s was cut free from the car and was taken by ambulance to the University Hospital of North Staffordshire with pelvic injuries.

A lorry driver in his 30s was airlifted to the same hospital with a lower leg injury. Neither is thought to be in a life threatening condition.

The accident happened at about 1.20pm and tailbacks of 10 miles immediately built up.

As rescue crews tried to clear the debris frustrated drivers took to other routes in a bid to continue their journeys, one recounting that it took an hour just to get through Cannock.

Drivers were caught up in slow-moving traffic on the A34 from Cannock to Stafford town centre until after 6.30 pm.

The smash happened just after the sliproad at Junction 13 when a car hit the central reservation and overturned.

Three lorries travelling behind also became involved.