M1 chaos as lorry overturns
A section of the M1 was closed for more than six hours after an articulated lorry jackknifed and overturned.
The driver was treated in hospital for minor injuries.
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The accident blocked all three lanes of the southbound carriageway and hard shoulder, causing tailbacks from Junction 22, at Markfield, all the way back to Junction 23, at Loughborough.
The road was closed from Junction 22 to Junction 21a, at Leicester Forest East.
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It caused gridlock on surrounding roads, including the A511, A50, A46 and the outer Leicester ring road, as traffic was rerouted away from the stricken lorry and back on to the motorway further south.
The lorry crashed at about 11.45am, about a quarter of a mile south of Junction 22.
Leicester Mercury employee Karl Prickett was caught up in the jams.
He said: "We were stuck for two hours waiting to get off at Junction 22, on our way back from Stoke.
"It was a nightmare, even when we got off – there were people going south with no idea where they were. The A46 and ring road were chock-a-block too – it was utter chaos."
A police spokesman said: The driver was taken by ambulance to Leicester Royal Infirmary with minor injuries."
A spokeswoman for the Highways Agency said: "Traffic trapped between Junction 22 and the lorry was eventually able to file past the vehicle using part of the hard shoulder.
"The rest was rerouted along the A46 and back on to the M1."
Comments
by disident3
Monday, December 03 2012, 7:10PM
“Most today are Motorway jockeys only, close the m way and many are lost. The days of tramping are over, the loss or movement of loads worries me. You learned by being a drivers mate for a start. Days sitting in the London or Liverpool docks taught you patience.”
by rhino
Monday, December 03 2012, 6:20PM
“Not a pro but taught by pros of the day!!! they were then gentlemen of the road NOT bully boys with I'm bigger THAN YOU ATTITUDE.”
by rhino
Monday, December 03 2012, 6:17PM
“55 years accident free.”
by rhino
Monday, December 03 2012, 6:15PM
“When l was taught to drive l was learnt to ease off the throttle when another driver wanted to overtake NOT keep my foot flat on the floor like these truckers!!!!”
by disident3
Monday, December 03 2012, 4:41PM
“About 45 years HGV. Accident free. I think I have a vague idea about driving. My opinion for what it is worth that the new speed limit on AGV is the danger. How many times have I seen car drivers cut across all three lanes on nearly missing their turn off bringing chaos to other traffic , or zig zagging in and out of traffic to gain a car space. Miss your drop of ship your boss is not impressed and more than likely out of a job. What ever the weather you have to go. If I see an HGV I can wait. Of course if your beer and fags are not in the shop or no [petrol at the pumps you would be the first to moan. Not all driver are good car or HGV so easier to give way than die.”
by oldhenry
Monday, December 03 2012, 4:33PM
“In Germany they call lorries overtaking each other 'elephant racing' and I see why. I suppose over 150 miles one half a mile faster than the one in front saves you 0.002 of an hour so it must be worth the hassle.”
by lorraine1965
Monday, December 03 2012, 2:00PM
“here we go again...truckers at fault..never the cars at fault that badly over take trucks that cause trucks to try and stop.then accidents happen..people who call truckers should travel in a truck and see what some of these truckers have to deal with trying to get clothes.food and other stuff to a destanation...”
by heisspartacus
Monday, December 03 2012, 12:26AM
“So you are saying that lorries should be confined to the inside lane only - " trying to overtake one another".
That would be a recipe for dangerous driving. They are professional drivers and I hope you are not one or god help the rest of us on the road.”
by rhino
Sunday, December 02 2012, 8:03PM
“These truckers need to be slowed down and prevented from the stupid tactics they use ie: trying to overtake one another doing about 100th of a mile an hr faster for miles and miles.
These people call themselves professional drivers.
They should be limited to 50 miles per hr.”