Parts of the M62 are expected to remain closed into Monday’s rush-hour after a man died and 10 other people were hurt in a horror smash on the motorway this morning.
Police closed off the route in both directions at 9.30am just before Junction 21 at Milnrow after a car driving eastbound collided with a lorry, smashing through the central reservation onto the opposite side of the motorway, crashing into another car and two other HGVs.
The man travelling in the car was sadly pronounced dead at the scene.
Officers have managed to trace his family but no formal identification has taken place, said Greater Manchester Police.
Earlier today a 24-year-old woman was also tragically killed on the M61 motorway after being hit by a truck.
All of the vehicles involved in the crash were freed from the M62 by 2pm with traffic officers turning vehicles around and sending them off at the nearest junction.
A man and a woman who were travelling in one of the other vehicles were taken to hospital for treatment to serious injuries where they remain in a serious but stable condition.
The eastbound carriageway of the M62 reopened at 3.30pm.
The westbound carriageway is unlikely to open again before 4.30pm.
The closure is expected to have knock-on effects to rush-hour traffic on the M60 and drivers are being advised to leave more time for their journeys this evening.
Police Constable Ed Lister from GMP’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit said: “GMP, along with other emergency services, are continuing to deal with a large scene near to junction 21 of the M62 involving multiple vehicles, and in which one man has sadly lost his life.
“Our officers are doing all we can to identify this man as quickly as possible so we can speak with his family, and also to deal with the other injured people and damaged vehicles at the scene.
“There are considerable traffic tailbacks following this collision and we are advising people wherever possible to avoid this area and use another route.
A spokesperson for Highways England said: “Police investigation work along the westbound carriageway is continuing which will need to be followed by barrier repairs and the recovery of vehicles from the scene.
Drivers needing to use the westbound M62 are advised to avoid the area – by choosing an alternative route or delaying their journeys until after the carriageway has reopened and residual queues have cleared.”
