M6 closed as four injured in lorry crash
Four people were injured in a five vehicle pile-up that closed the M6 on the outskirts of Wolverhampton.
Emergency services said it was lucky no one was killed in the incident, which happened on the southbound carriageway near Essington at near junction 10a following the smash at around 5.50pm.
Paramedics said 'several HGVs, a 4×4 and a car' were involved, and the 4×4 became trapped between two HGVs.
West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman Claire Brown said: "Miraculously the driver of the 4×4, a man in his 40s, suffered relatively minor injuries. Once extricated from the vehicle he was immobilised as a precaution before being taken to Walsall Manor Hospital by land ambulance.
"One HGV driver, a man, was also trapped in the wreckage of his cab. Upon assessment he was found to have sustained a nasty lower leg fracture. Whilst the man's condition was stabilised by ambulance staff with pain relief and anti-sickness medication, the fire service worked to carefully cut him free of the wreckage. After about an hour, the man was extricated onto a spinal board before being fully immobilised and taken to New Cross Hospital for further treatment.
"The driver of the car suffered minor injuries and was treated on scene before being taken to Walsall Manor Hospital by land.
"A second HGV driver, a man in his 20s, sustained a minor head injury in the collision but, once treated on scene, didn't need hospital treatment.
"Considering the number of vehicles involved and the damage caused in the collision, it was miraculous that no one suffered more serious or even fatal injuries."
Long tailbacks started to form on both sides of the motorway, which was open by 8pm.
