Huge M6 delays again after five-vehicle crash and 150-litre chemical spill
Drivers on the M6 faced another morning of delays after 150 litres of chemical spilled onto the motorway in a five-vehicle crash.
The road was closed southbound near Birmingham for around 90 minutes today after four lorries and a car were involved in a smash at around 5.40am.
Two men were taken to hospital for minor injuries and all four lanes were shut between Junction 5 for Castle Bromwich and Junction 4a for the M42 while the hazardous chemical was cleared.
One lane was reopened at around 7.20am but the motorway was not back to normal until 11.30am. The southbound entry slip road was also shut at Junction 5 to reduce the number of vehicles passing the crash scene.
The closure led to delays of up to two hours for motorists travelling south from the Black Country, with reports of congestion as far back as Junction 10 near Walsall - 23 miles away from the crash - at 7am.
Traffic also built up on roads in surrounding areas as drivers attempt to avoid the jam on the motorway, while some local bus services were also disrupted.
Fire crews from Erdington, Wood End and Beacon Hill were sent to the scene where two articulated lorries, a 17-ton lorry, a 24-ton lorry and a car had all been involved in the crash.
A spokesman for West Midlands Fire Service said around 150 litres of methyl ethyl ketone, a hazardous chemical commonly used in paint thinner, had spilled onto the road from six chemical drums carrying it in the 17-ton lorry.
Firefighters used soil and an environmental pack to absorb the liquid, also known as butanone, before washing the road clean and waiting for contractors Veolia to dispose of the drums.
All the HGV vehicles had been moved to the hard shoulder by 9.50am, allowing a second lane to be opened. A third lane was released at 10.30am and all lanes were open by 11.30am.
Two men were taken to Heartlands Hospital, one of whom was the 38-year-old driver of the car who was suffering neck and head pain but managed to get out of the car without help.
The accident means commuters have had to deal with huge extensions to their journeys for the third day this week, after the discovery of a World War Two bomb caused chaos on the M6 and Aston Expressway on Monday and Tuesday.
A Highways England spokesman said: "Part of the southbound carriageway between Junction 5 for Birmingham and 4a for the M42 was closed following a collision involving four HGVs and a car.
"One HGV had hazardous liquid on board that spilled onto lanes one and two. This was dealt with by Highways England and partners from the fire service and Environment Agency."
