Traffic Alert: M6 closed after serious accident claims five lives

1pm Update: The M6 southbound at Junction 15 (Stoke-on-Trent) has been reopened ahead of schedule following the fatal accident earlier today.

However, there are reported to be long delays in the area and it is expected to be sometime yet before the backlog of traffic clears.

The effects of the earlier closure between Junction 11a and 12 northbound have now dissipated and traffic is reported to be running smoothly.

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The M6 in Staffordshire is facing severe disruption this morning after separate accidents blocked both the northbound and southbound carriageways.

Roads surrounding Stoke-on-Trent are facing severe disruption following a serious accident between a car and a lorry which left five people dead.

The accident, which happened around 4.30am, forced the closure of the southbound carriageway of the motorway between Junction 15 (Stoke) and 14 (Stafford North).

Highways England has warned the closure could remain in place until this afternoon to complete clean-up and repairs following the accident.

Separately, two lanes of the M6 northbound between Junctions 11a (M6 Toll) and 12 (Gailey) have been closed following a serious accident shortly after 7.30pm.

There are delays of 40 minutes being predicted against normal journey times and traffic is not expected to return to normal until after 10am.

For the incident at Junction 15, diversions have been put in place and the southbound sliproad at J15 has also been closed.

Diversions are in place and drivers will have to exit the M6 southbound at J15 and take the exit to A500 eastbound. They will continue along the A500 to its junction with the A34 at Hanford, then take the exit to the A34 southbound and rejoin the M6 at J14.

Motorists have been advised to allow extra time for their journeys and may to consider using an alternative route if possible.

Updates to follow…