M6 Chaos In The North West.

[sapelesam]

Absolute tragedy that a truck driver loses his life just doing his job. What I don't understand is the need to close the motorway for 8 hours and counting. I passed the incident going south this morning and there was some spilled load, but nothing that couldn't be cleared in an hour. I know the death must be investigated but the economy of the country can't afford this sort of chaos.

[TWR]

Direct your post for your inconvenience to the Family of the Driver Saplesam, at least you are on here writing your post.

[hereIam]

Maybe forensics take a very long time when a death is involved.

[naomi24]

I haven't heard about this so I don't know what happened but I think it's safe to say that the circumstances of the accident have to be investigated, measurements of skid marks taken., etc., before anything can be moved or cleared away.

[anneasquith]

I'm no expert but I'm sure the emergency services want the motorway opened as soon as possible

[sunny-dave]

It's sad that someone died - but will a 'forensic' investigation bring him back?

Compare and contrast with the French Police - once casualties are removed, their only objective is to get the traffic flowing - attributing blame is secondary.

[naomi24]

^Same in Italy. Once the ambulances have gone they just move it all to the side of the road.

[sunny-dave]

If only that were true, anne - it seems that determining cause (and blame) is very much the first priority.

[anneasquith]

I didn't say it was their first priority Dave.

[bhg481]

//will a 'forensic' investigation bring him back? // No but it might stop it happening again or some poor soul being locked up/licence removed for something that wasn't his fault.

[hc4361]

If an accident has been caused by somebody driving carelessly or dangerously I want them prosecuted. For a prosecution to be successful the evidence must be gathered in a proper manner so that the experts can determine exactly what happened.

I was involved in a fatal crash that closed the road for over 9 hours. I am thankful the investigation was thorough, as was the deceased's family at the coroner's inquest.

[TWR]

I will predict this accident was caused by a motorist ( I am not sticking up for HGV Drivers in case you think)

[sunny-dave]

It may be harsh, but surely there has to be a balance between the costs of prolonged closure (not just monetary, but physical too - it's no walk in the park being stuck on a freezing motorway for 8 hours) and the benefits of a forensic investigation.

I think that in many (most?) cases the investigation is given too much priority compared with getting the road open again.

[sunny-dave]

I will predict (ludicrously because I have no information at all) that it was caused by an inattentive HGV driver travelling too fast in foggy conditions.

[ this is, of course, arrant nonsense - but every bit as valid as TWR's groundless assertion ]

[TWR]

Dave, they have to look at every avenue of the cause of the accident no matter how long it takes, my friend & I was involved in a fatality many years ago at Gretna.

[TWR]

We shall wait for the outcome Dave, I do know your dislike of HGVs.

[Mamyalynne]

We do do it differently to many Countries - whether that's the best way or not depends on your own viewpoint.

There were three lorries involved, who knows what happened.

Dreadful for the family of the deceased.

[naomi24]

Speculation is not only futile, it's ridiculous. Lorries cause accidents, cars cause accidents, motor bikes cause accidents.

[sunny-dave]

Exactly my point, naomi - perhaps I should have pushed even harder on my irony/sarcasm klaxon when posting at 16:31

[DTCwordfan]

fyi - jct 23 for Haydock and the M58 is the area affected.

[Ken4155]

Vehicles don't 'cause' accidents; drivers do. And it doesn't help when there were apparently two separate incidents.