Man still critically ill after M62 crash
The incident happened at 8.15am westbound between junction 21 (Milnrow) and 22 (Ripponden) when a lorry collided with the central reservation.
The lorry went through the reservation onto the opposite side, colliding with a number of vehicles.
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Hide AdThe 37-year-old driver of the lorry was airlifted to hospital and police say he is still critically ill.
A 30-year-old man suffered whiplash and a 53-year-old man sustained a leg injury.
Police have issued a witness appeal and requested any CCTV or dash-cam footage. Witnesses should call the Serious Collision Investigation Unit on 0161 856 4741.
As a result of the crash the motorway was closed in both directions for 20 hours and police advised motorists to use alternative routes where possible.
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Hide AdHighways officials said a cargo of butter in one of the vehicles in the crash turned to grease and affected the road surface. There was also a heavy diesel spill.
By 5pm most of the grease had been cleared from the carriageway but the road was not fully re-open until around 4am this morning (Tuesday).
Highways England Tweeted: “All repair works are complete and all lanes are open in both directions #M62 J22-J21. No delays. Your patience has been much appreciated.”
John Patrick, a 67-year-old model railway salesman from Pontefract, was left in standing traffic for hours after setting off to meet a friend in Manchester yesterday morning.
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Hide AdHe said that he hit traffic at around 10.30am and by 2pm had moved only a mile-and-a-half along the westbound carriageway.
He said: “There are people using the hard shoulder, they are not service vehicles either. It is absolutely boiling hot here, it is red hot.
“I suspect the police are trying to help at the other end but there is no-one around here to help at all.
“It is so stressful, there are hundreds of people trapped here all waiting patiently in their cars and other people are driving on the hard shoulder. There is a notice saying drivers should not use the hard shoulder.
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Hide Ad“The big problem is that once you get onto this section of the M62 there are no turn offs at all. They need to get some emergency turn-offs so people can get off - if a woman was having a baby they would have to get a helicopter.
“I am not dehydrated yet but in another hour or two I might be, it is cloudy but very hot. No-one has offered us any help at all, we are just stranded here.”
The crash also caused delays on bus services, with services through Calderdale, Huddersfield and Leeds operating up to an hour minutes late. There were also cancellations.