80 minute wait for man trapped after M62 smash

Motorway police are appealing for witnesses following a four-vehicle collision on the M62 in which an HGV driver was trapped in his cab for 80 minutes.

Shortly before 8.30pm last night, Wednesday 12 September 2007, a Kia Pride being driven by a 25-year-old Oldham man was in the outside lane of the eastbound carriageway between Birch services and the Heywood junction 19.

The Kia attempted to pull into the middle lane and a Renault articulated lorry braked to let the Kia in. However, another articulated lorry travelling behind the Renault then collided with it.

As a result, the second lorry, driven by a 40-year-old man from North Wales, collided with a Ford Mondeo being driven by a 47-year-old man from Halifax.

The collision resulted in the HGV driver being trapped in his cab for 80 minutes before being released by the fire brigade. He suffered a stomach injury and was taken to Fairfield Hospital where his condition is described as serious but stable.

No-one else was hurt in the incident.

The eastbound carriageway was closed between junction 18 at Simister and junction 19 at Heywood while emergency services dealt with the scene. The carriageway was fully re-opened at 1.45am this morning, Thursday 13 September.

Anyone who witnessed the collision is asked to call GMP's motorway unit on 0161 856 1550.