Lorry Falls From Bridge in Warrington

7 November 2011, 17:25 | Updated: 30 March 2016, 13:50

A lorry has fallen from a bridge on to a motorway in Warrington.

The HGV, which was laden with household goods, left the road while travelling along the A56 on a bridge over the M56 at junction 11, near Preston Brook.

Cheshire Police said the motorway and the A56 were closed in both directions and traffic was being diverted away from the scene.

The force said it could not confirm whether any other vehicles were involved in the crash.

A spokeswoman for Cheshire Police said: "We are currently responding to a major road traffic incident reported at 3.24pm today on the M56 at Preston Brook between Warrington and Runcorn.

There is one confirmed casualty involved. An HGV left the carriageway whilst travelling on a bridge over the motorway at junction 11.

The HGV, which was carrying household goods, came to a rest on the westbound carriageway. The M56 is now closed in both directions at the location and traffic is being diverted off the motorway at junction 11. Motorists are strongly advised to avoid the M56 in the vicinity of Warrington and Runcorn and to seek alternative routes.

The motorway is expected to be closed for several hours and this will impact heavily upon rush hour traffic in and around Warrington. The A56 above the motorway leading from Preston Brook to Warrington is also closed to traffic.''

A spokesman for Cheshire Fire Service said four crews from Warrington and Knutsford were initially sent to the scene however only three remain there.

Firefighters were working on making the lorry safe by extracting the battery and isolating the engine, he added. Two hose reels were placed on stand-by in case of a fire or explosion as the work was being carried out.