Crash sparks rush hour chaos
A major route into Walsall was shut for more than five hours today after an eight-vehicle smash in which six people were injured.
Cars and vans were left scattered across the Wolverhampton Road near Junction 10 of the M6 after an articulated lorry lost control.
Thousands of motorists were caught up in the aftermath after police were forced to shut the main route into town to carry out investigations and clear the wreckage.
Fire crews, paramedics and police filled the road after the smash at 7.50am. The lorry, owned by Lincolnshire-based transport firm George H Kime & Co Ltd, is believed to have hit a van and six cars waiting at the traffic lights at the junction with Bloxwich Lane.
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Fire crews cut a woman out of a white Rover and also freed a man from a VW van. They were taken to Walsall Manor Hospital along with the lorry driver and four others who had been hurt.
Tailbacks of motorists stretched all the way back to the Keyway island of the Black Country Route, in Willenhall, after police closed the exit sliproad at Junction 10 for traffic travelling towards Walsall.
Drivers were diverted back on to the Black Country route, or on to the M6, to get off at Junction 9 at Wednesbury or Junction 7 for Great Barr.
John Tolley, landlord of the Parkbrook Pub, said it had caused major problems on the roads. "It's absolute chaos," he said.
"My friend and neighbour were caught up in it.
"He had just pulled out from his home in Wolverhampton Road in his van and was turning right towards Junction 10 when he was hit by another vehicle."
Insp John Pickard, of Walsall Police, said the roads were not expected to return to normal until later this afternoon despite the police working to clear the route.
"The driver of the HGV lost control of it at the traffic light junction and this has resulted in a collision," he said.
"A number of people suffered minor injuries, mainly suspected spinal injuries." Watch commander at Walsall fire station, Nigel Walker, added: "We isolated all the power to the vehicles and made sure everything was safe for ambulance and police to do their jobs."
