M5 crash: Woman escapes serious injury despite car smashing into lorry
A driver has escaped with only minor injuries after her car hit a lorry on the motorway during rush hour.
The woman managed to free herself from the wreckage before fire crews arrived on the scene at 5.25pm on Friday.
The collision took place on the M5 northbound between junction one at West Bromwich and the M6 southbound.
Two fire crews attended the scene, one from Oldbury and another from West Bromwich.
A total of eight firefighters used specialist equipment to remove the car from the rear of the lorry.
Lanes one and two were closed whilst crews made the vehicles safe and delays were experienced for drivers as far back as junction two in Oldbury.
Tweeting about the incident, @WestBromFire said: "RTC on M6 North. Car vs lorry. With @Oldburyfire.
"Thankfully no one was in the passenger seat so no one seriously injured. Driver shook up but OK. Drive safe this Christmas."
Highways West Midlands also attended the scene to help with the recovery of the vehicles.
@HighwaysWMIDS said: "Recovery on scene #M5 northbound between J1 #WestBromwich and #M6 following a 2 vehicle collision.
"Specialist tools required to separate the car and van, Lanes 1 and 2 remain closed.
"@HighwaysWMIDS are on scene assisting, delays back to J2 #Oldbury."
It is understood that West Midlands Ambulance Service also attended the scene as did the Central Motorway Police Group (CMPG).
Highways England praised fire crews after they had successfully cleared the area and returned the motorway to normal.
It said: "Vehicle removed from the grass verge #M5 northbound link to #M6 southbound following a collision, all lanes are NOW OPEN.
"Many thanks to @CMPG @OFFICIALWMAS and @WestMidsFire for attending, great teamwork."
