Biker killed in blowout crash on M6 in Staffordshire
A motorcylist was killed and his pillion passenger critically injured on the M6 in Staffordshire in a collision caused by a lorry blow-out.
Three motorbikes and a car crashed as they tried to avoid debris from the blown-out tyre near junction 14 north of Stafford.
The man who died was aged 62 and from Blackpool. His pillion, a 49-year-old woman, was among those taken to hospital. She was described by police as critically ill following the crash, at 9am on Saturday.
The accident caused long delays for drivers caught up in sweltering heat, with three lanes of the southbound carriageway closed for almost six hours.
The hard shoulder opened two-and-a-half hours after police arrived and shut off all four lanes.
Staffordshire Police said: "At approximately 9am a white DAF HGV travelling on the M6 between junction 15 of the motorway and Yarnfield, near Stone, had a blow-out. As a result of the blow-out, a lot of tyre debris was left on the carriageway.
"We believe traffic began to slow to avoid hitting the debris. As a result of the traffic slowing there was a collision involving three motorcycles and a silver Volkswagen Polo. The motorcycles involved were a red Aprilla 750cc, a blue Kawasaki 500cc and an orange Kawasaki 1000cc.
"All four motorcyclists were taken to the University Hospital of North Staffordshire and, sadly, the rider of the orange Kawasaki, a 62-year-old man from Blackpool, died on his way to hospital. His passenger was also seriously injured. Her condition is described as critical. The motorway was closed until 11.30am, when the hard shoulder was opened, and the other three lanes were reopened at approximately 2.45pm.
"Due to the amount of vehicles involved in the incident and that we have to carry out our inquiries very thoroughly and sensitively due to the nature of the incident, this does take time."
West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman Chris Kowalik said the 62-year-old was confirmed dead at hospital.
