Three killed in M62 crash

THREE people were killed on the M62 last night as blizzards and icy roads caused traffic chaos.

The fatal crash happened near junction 23 at Huddersfield, shortly after 9.12pm, closing the west-bound carriageway.

Police said a car ploughed into the near-side barrier, killing three men who were travelling in the vehicle.

Investigations into the cause of the accident were launched overnight and the motorway was re-opened at 4.50am today.

But 70 minutes later, two lanes were closed again, when a large goods vehicle broke down at the same spot, causing more chaos and delays for west-bound morning motorists between junction 24 Ainley Top and junction 22 Rishworth Moor.

A 40-mile-an-hour speed limit was also put in place just before 7am when sleet and snow showers created hazardous driving conditions.

Forecasters say blizzard conditions which deposited several inches of snow in Saddleworth this morning were the last for this year.

The Chronicle’s weatherman, Damian Rodgers, said the next few days would be dry but cold and warned ice on the roads would be the main problem for motorists.

He predicted icy easterly winds would send temperatures plummeting to minus three or four overnight and daytime temperatures would struggle to rise much above freezing. Gusts are expected to continue for a week or so, bringing lots of ice and frost.

Damian added it would remain dry but cold throughout the New Year period, but warned more snow could follow, possibly in the early part of next week.

Damian said it was on track to becoming Oldham’s coldest December since 1995. High winds and snow meant the A635 Isle of Skye road from Greenfield to Holmfirth was closed again this morning, as was the A640 Denshaw to Ripponden Road.

Meanwhile, Oldham is hanging on to its road salt — despite tempting offers from other councils to buy tonnes of local stocks.

Councillor Mark Alcock said: “We have 1,000 tonnes coming in this week, and 2,000 will come in next week. Bearing in mind how much we have spread, we need it.

“We were asked to sell salt to Rochdale last week, but we declined, and on Christmas Eve Salford asked us for 60 tonnes, but we said no.

“Before the gritting started, Rochdale asked to buy some salt back in October, and we sold them a few hundred tonnes ages ago.

“But we replenished stocks, and our primary concern is making sure we look after Oldham.

“I am happy with the way things went over the Christmas break.”