Van driver killed in lorry smash
A van driver has been killed in a collision with a lorry in Staffordshire today.
The accident caused traffic chaos in the Cannock area with tailbacks on the A5 in both directions.
The man was confirmed dead at the scene following the collision in Lodge Lane, Churchbridge, at 4am.
Click on the munbers below to see more pictures from the scene.
Lodge Lane was closed off between Saredon Road and Mill Lane and traffic queues also built up on the A460 Wolverhampton Road up to the Laney Green Island, Junction 11 of the M6.
The van driver was discovered on the ground outside his vehicle and was dead at the scene.
Traffic was very slow moving up to two miles from the accident scene. Motorists described the traffic as an "absulute nightmare."
Chris Leggett, an office worker, was travelling down the A5 on his way to Wolverhampton when he got stuck in the traffic.
Mr Leggett, aged 34, joined other drivers taking a short cut through the villages of Great Wyrley and Cheslyn Hay.
Two fire crews from Cannock were sent out to deal with the crash.
Police this morning said they did not know when the road would be able to re-open. Meanwhile four men were injured when a car flipped onto its roof in a three-vehicle crash on the M5 near Halesowen at 7.40am.
One lane was blocked following the accident on the northbound carriageway at Junction 3 of the motorway today.
The men were all in the car which was involved in the crash along with a pick up truck and a small van.
Two of the men were taken to Sandwell General Hospital with back and neck pain.
The other two men were described by a West Midlands Ambulance spokeswoman today "walking wounded".
