Major delays as M6 closed due to lorry and car crash after HGV driver 'suffers medical episode at wheel'
A motorway has reopened after remaining shut for several hours due to a serious crash involving a lorry and a car.
It is believed the HGV driver suffered a medical episode at the wheel in the early hours of Tuesday.
Firefighters, paramedics and police worked with other agencies to free the driver who was trapped before he was taken to Walsall Manor Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
The M6 was closed in both directions at Junction 10 for Walsall and Wolverhampton. The crash caused the lorry to smash through the central reservation and overturn.
Highways bosses reopened the southbound stretch of the route at 4pm, and were in the process of opening up the northbound section later on Tuesday with long delays facing motorists.
The northbound carriageway was partially open by about 8pm.The road was fully open by rush hour on Wednesday morning.
Emergency services were called at 3.19am. As of 1pm, the motorway had been closed for nearly 10 hours.
Traffic was being diverted via the junction roundabout with more than 90 minute delays in both directions.
Both carriageways were closed to enable recovery and repairs to around 200 metres of safety barrier and four lighting columns.
The incident also caused delays on the M5 and other nearby routes including the Black Country Route, Wolverhampton Road and at Junction 9 including Pleck Road, Broadway, Bescot Road and Wood Green Road.
Also on routes around M5 Junctions one and two for traffic was also taking longer including a National Grid lane closure on the A4123 towards Birchley.
A spokesman for West Midlands Fire Service said: "In total, our response included 15 firefighters and three fire engines, with crews attending from stations including Willenhall, Bilston and Tipton."
A spokesman for West Midlands Ambulance service said: “We were called at 3.19am to a lorry that had overturned on the M6 junction 10 South in Walsall.
"One ambulance, two paramedic officers and a MERIT trauma doctor and critical care paramedic attended the scene.
"Upon arrival, we found the driver of the lorry who is believed to have suffered a medical episode at the wheel. He was assessed and had sustained non-life threatening injuries. He received treatment at the scene before being conveyed to Walsall Manor hospital for further assessments.”
A spokesman for West Midlands Police said: "We were called shortly after 3am today to a lorry crash at Junction 10 of the M6 at Walsall.
"Officers attended and supported the fire and ambulance services to make the scene safe."
A spokesman for National Highways: West Midlands said: "We do expect the road to remain closed throughout the afternoon and possibly in to this evening."
Star reporter Lauren Hill became caught up in the traffic chaos on her way into the Express & Star office in Queen Street from her home in Sutton Coldfield.
She said: "I could tell there were a lot of frustrated drivers, a lot of people beeping at each other, even though there's nowhere to go.
"The map took me from Sutton Coldfield, through Walsall. The traffic was extremely slow moving because there were more roadworks going on there too, as you go up towards the Morrisons. The M6 was just standstill, and moved an inch every five minutes. Only one lane was open to lead people off at Junction 10, but from there the entire M6 was closed."
