25-car pile up on motorway black ice

Photo: Picture: ANTHONY MILLER

CHAOS: the scene on the frozen A627M this morning following the major pile-up

Drivers injured and roads gridlocked

BLACK ice caused a 25-vehicle smash on the frozen A627M at Chadderton in today’s morning rush hour.

One man with severe injuries was taken to the Royal Oldham Hospital, and firemen were freeing a woman from her car as the Chronicle went to press.

A fleet of eight ambulances raced to the scene, including two hazardous area response teams in 4x4 vehicles.

Speaking from the scene, Fire Brigade spokesman Jon Aspinall said: “There are cars all over the place, it is a melee.

“A seriously injured man was out of his vehicle when we got here and has gone to hospital. We are currently in the process of extricating a female from a vehicle.

“Some of the cars have suffered major damage.

“Fifteen vehicles were directly involved and another 10 were trapped in the crash scene.” Other witness reported cars had careered up the embankments at the side of the motorway.

Police, four fire engines and the Highways Agency were on scene and at least one other injured woman was taken to hospital suffering from chest injuries. The shunt happened on the slip road as Broadway joins the A627M and traffic heads towards the M62.

No exact details about casualties are known yet.

The smash happened just before 8am and caused widespread traffic chaos as traffic backed up. The motorway remains shut.