The M6 is blocked northbound after a multi-vehicle accident involving six lorries and five cars.
The accident happened between Junction 16 and 17.
Traffic monitoring system Inrix says six lorries and fives cars have been involved in the incident.
Traffic is blocked as work to clean up spilled diesel is ongoing.
We'll bring you live updates on this situation in our blog below:
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Key Events
Traffic held
Stationary traffic due to all traffic being temporarily held, spillage of diesel and earlier accident on M6 Northbound between J16 A500 (Stoke-On-Trent / Crewe) and J17 A534 Old Mill Road (Sandbach / Crewe). In the roadworks area. Camera shows all traffic has been held as of 15:15. Lanes one and two (of three) were closed for the carriageway clean-up following a diesel spillage due to a multi-vehicle accident.
INRIX Update
Traffic monitoring service INRIX claims M6 traffic cams show two lanes of the northbound carriageway remain closed - despite original reports all lanes were now reopen. Delays of 1 hour 30 minutes can be expected.
North West Ambulance Service
A North West Ambulance Service spokesman said:
We were called to the M6 at 12.25pm. We have taken one patient to hospital but have no further information.
Latest from North West Motorway Police:
M6 J16 TO J17 - LANE 3 Open.
— North West Motorway Police (@NWmwaypolice) February 18, 2019
Ok folks. We have now opened lane 3.
Many thanks for your patience & support.
The teams really have worked hard to get this open and you moving.
Safe journey to you all. #takeyourtime pic.twitter.com/7yaMZr042u
Traffic building southbound
Traffic is now also building on the southbound side of the M6, as people slow down to look at the accident.
Latest from our traffic monitoring system:
M6 Northbound blocked, stationary traffic due to multi-vehicle accident and fuel spillage between J16 A500 (Stoke-On-Trent / Crewe) and J17 A534 Old Mill Road (Sandbach / Crewe). Congestion to J16 (Crewe / Stoke-On-Trent) northbound with southbound traffic slow from J18 (Middlewich / Holmes Chapel.) Traffic is slow on the A500 approaching J16.
Pictures show the tailback
If you’re travelling northbound on the m6 try and avoid ASAP. Accident at sandbach service junction with tailbacks of about 10 miles (that we’ve seen so far) - we’re travelling south. #M6Motorway #motorwayupdates pic.twitter.com/oTwn86CQMh
— JASMINE LUCIA HAZAN (@Jasmine_Hazan) February 18, 2019
Busy day for the emergency services
It’s been a busy day for the emergency services today.
This morning a man suffered “serious” injuries after falling from a bridge over the A500. That happened shortly before 8.30am.
Later in the day, shortly after 12pm, police and firefighters dealt with a vehicle blaze at a service station off the M6.
Crews were called to the southbound side of Sandbach services following reports of a car fire.
This latest incident, which is affecting the northbound side between junction 16 and 17 involves six lorries and five cars, according to traffic monitoring system Inrix.
Update from North West Motorway Police
#M6 J16 to J17 Northbound
— North West Motorway Police (@NWmwaypolice) February 18, 2019
OK Folks some good news
We are in the process of removing the Vehicles in the RTC
Once we've completed this we are going OPEN LANE 3 to get you moving
We are working as quick & safely as we can please bear with us a little longer #partershipworkin pic.twitter.com/rRgJKktSsB
Tweet from Cheshire HGV Cops
Now assisting @NWmwaypolice @CPTaskforce @HighwaysNWEST with multiple HGV RTC M6 North J16-17.
— Cheshire HGV Cops (@Cheshire_CVU) February 18, 2019
M6 closed at J16 NORTH.
Recovering multiple damaged HGVs takes time and crews working as quickly as possible. pic.twitter.com/Ax0pdL8858