Tanker falls from motorway

Three motorways have been affected by the crash

A lorry driver has died after his tanker fell from a motorway flyover on to a major junction on the M60 Manchester ring road.

The tanker, which was carrying tar, left the M62 carriageway above Simister island just after 0900 BST on Wednesday.

It appears to have plunged down an embankment to the road below hitting two cars and a lorry, where the M60, M62 and M66 motorways merge.

The 54-year-old lorry driver Douglas George Fox, from Grimsby, died at the scene, and the occupants of the other three vehicles suffered shock and minor injuries.

Mr Fox leaves a widow, Karen, and sons Matthew, 23, and Thomas 25.

The distance the tanker fell is believed to be more than 20 feet.

Accident investigators are trying to establish how the crash happened.

Chief Inspector Ian Lomax, of Greater Manchester Police, said: "This was a tragic accident and could have been an awful lot worse.

"The tanker, transporting bitumen, came off the embankment before the start of the bridge. Two cars and a wagon were waiting at traffic lights on the road below.

"The driver of the tanker died at the scene.

"The drivers of both cars, a Renault Clio and a Vauxhall Vectra, were treated for minor injuries by the ambulance service. The driver of the wagon is unhurt."

Chief Inspector Lomax said there was no indication yet as to how the accident happened.

Alternative routes

He said: "This is a very complex route here but we don't have accidents of this magnitude very often."

Greater Manchester Police is urging people to avoid the area and find alternative routes.

The M62 reopened at lunchtime while the Simister island was closed until about 2000 BST.

Road closures created tailbacks to junction 13 on the eastbound M60 and junction 20 of the westbound carriageway.