Tailbacks after five-vehicle rush hour M6 crash

A man in his 20s was taken to hospital after the accident, which took place on the northbound carriageway between junctions 15 for Stoke South and 16 for Newcastle Under Lyme.

The patient is said to have suffered neck and back pain after the crash and was sent to University Hospital of North Staffordshire by ambulance fitted with a neck collar and spinal board.

The crash took place at around 7.24am and is believed to have taken place in the outside lane.

The Highways Agency said that there were five miles of congestion back to J15.

Ambulance communications officer Claire Brown said: "Crews responded to initial reports of a five vehicle collision, however, on arrival, they found two cars and two vans which had been involved.

"Both cars ended up at the side of the carriageway up the embankment, one van had been in collision with the central reservation and the other had hit debris on the road.

"One car sustained significant damage and its driver, a man in his 20s, suffered neck and back pain in the collision. The ambulance crew treated the man at the scene and immobilised him with a neck collar and spinal board before he was taken by land ambulance to University Hospital North Staffordshire.

"The second car driver and both van drivers, all men, were assessed on scene but did not require hospital treatment."

This lane remained closed at 9am this morning.