M6 shut between J32-31 as milk lorry crashes into central reservation

The overturned lorry on the M6 at Preston Pic: Highways England

A lorry has crashed through the central reservation on the M6 and shut the motorway in both directions.

Update: M6 re-opened in both directions at Preston after milk lorry crash chaos

Emergency services are on the scene of the crash which is between Junction 32 (Broughton) and Junction 31 (Samlesbury).

The M6 is shut in both directions and there’s no entrance to the motorway southbound at Junction 31A either.

The crash took place shortly after 7am on Sunday (2 July).

A spillage from the lorry, which was transporting milk, is affecting both sides of the motorway.

The motorway is expected to be closed throughout much of Sunday – with delays of more than an hour being experienced by motorists and traffic on the southbound side of the M6 is backing up to Junction 33 at Garstang and the M55 eastbound also affected with traffic backed up to Junction 3 at Kirkham.

The current surface of the M6 heading northbound showing the milk spillage Pic: Highways England

Traffic is being diverted down the A6 and through Preston meaning local routes are expected to be experiencing congestion throughout this morning.

A statement from Lancashire Police said: “A milk tanker travelling northbound collided with the central reservation, entering the southbound carriageway before overturning on its side across the carriageway.

“A large quantity of milk and diesel has spilled onto the carriageway causing it to be closed.

“A man and woman, the driver and passenger, have been taken to hospital for treatment.

“Due to the nature of the spillage, the motorway is expected to be closed for some time.”

The tanker went over the central reservation, heading northbound Pic: Blog Preston

Ch Insp Patrick Worden, of Lancashire Police, said: “At this time we expect the motorway to be closed for some if not most of the day.

“The tanker needs to be recovered and due to the large scale milk and diesel spillage, the motorway surface treated appropriately.”

A spokesperson for Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service confirmed around 20,000 litres of milk had spilt onto the motorway.

Four crews remain on the scene and are helping to make the scene safe.