Dashcam footage captures moment lorry plunges from M6 Thelwall Viaduct

Dashcam footage captures moment lorry plunges from M6 Thelwall Viaduct


The shocking moment a lorry crashed through motorway safety barriers and plunged from the Thelwall Viaduct on the M6 was caught on dashcam. Emergency services were called to the Thelwall Viaduct on Monday, September 30 just before 7pm.

The dramatic dash cam footage captures the moment the HGV collides with the crash barriers and plunges down to the embankment below. The driver, a 56-year-old man, is not believed to have suffered any life changing or life-threatening injuries.

He was taken to hospital following the incident and is set to be discharged with suspected minor injuries. Lane closures remained in place overnight on the northbound carriageway due to serious damage caused to the motorway barrier.

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Firefighters applied water to cool the HGV and used bunding to contain a leak of approximately 1000 litres of bio-diesel from the fuel tanks of the vehicle. National Highways said a specialist recovery operation for the lorry has been organised, with vehicles said to be on their way to the scene.

Due to poor visibility and heavy rain, officers worked in dangerous motorway conditions to clear the scene. Cheshire Police said it was "remarkable" that the driver of the HGV was not more seriously injured, and other road users escaped unscathed.

A major operation with a multi-agency approach from NWAS, Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service, Highways, National Highways’ Regional Control Centre was adopted. All lanes on the M6 have since reopened and traffic has returned to normal, according to traffic monitoring site Inrix.