Traffic chaos as fuel tanker crash hits A41 near Whitchurch
Part of the A41 in Shropshire was closed today after a crash involving a fuel tanker.
West Mercia Police were called to a report of a single-vehicle collision on the A41 at Prees Heath, near Whitchurch, at around 5am
Laura Maltby, a spokeswoman for the force, said: "A green HGV Mercedes is understood to have been in collision with and mounted the central reservation while travelling southbound."
Market Drayton Police said it was causing gridlock on the road and tweeted:
Ambulance and the fire service also attended.
A spokeswoman for Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service said the HGV was a tanker containing petrol but there was no spillage.
She also confirmed the driver of the vehicle was not hurt as a result of the crash and was assisted down from his cab by paramedics.
Three fire crews including the rescue tender were sent out from Prees, Wellington and Whitchurch. An operations officer also attended the scene.
Police said at about 8.50am that, they were looking at putting an entire closure on the A41 southbound, in order to recover the vehicle.
Shropshire Council later said: "The A41 dual carriageway at Prees Heath is currently down to one open lane southbound after a fuel tanker crashed into the central reservation at around 5am today
"The tanker is currently still at the site as the collision has affected a lighting column. The tanker will be removed once the electricity supply to the column has been disconnected.
"Several hundred metres of the safety barrier in the central reservation have been damaged and will need to be replaced. This may take a couple of days, but will begin as soon as possible, following removal of the tanker.
"A lane closure on both sides of the central reservation will be required to carry out the barrier replacement. During this work the road will remain open, but will be down to one lane on either side."
