M6 crashes cause roads chaos
Two separate crashes just metres apart closed a section of the M6, causing hours of delays for motorists.
One person was taken to Stafford Hospital following a four-car smash on the northbound carriageway between junctions 12 for Gailey and 13 for Stafford near Penkridge shortly before 2pm yesterday.
Two Skoda Fabias, a BMW three series and a Mercedes A Class were involved in the smash.
Firefighters had to cut the person free from the vehicle before they were treated by ambulance crews and sent to hospital with leg injuries.
Two lorries also collided a short distance north of junction 12 less than 30 minutes after the first crash.
One of the lorries leaked a chemical onto the carriageway, which underwent investigation by Staffordshire Fire and Rescue. It was later confirmed as non-hazardous.
Junction 12 was closed off, but the left-hand lane between junctions 12 and 13 was reopened just over an hour later.
The smashes caused four hours of chaos on the roads in and around south Staffordshire. Queues built back as far as junction 10 at Walsall while the roads in Cannock, Stafford and south Staffordshire became gridlocked.
The effects were also felt in the evening as hundreds of hospital campaigners travelled to a meeting at the Staffordshire County Showground.
