The driver of a road sweeper was airlifted to hospital after his vehicle rolled over several times before landing back on its wheels.
Rush hour motorway traffic was brought to a standstill by Thursday’s accident, which happened about 5pm, on the link road between the M56 and the M53 at Ellesmere Port, where the air ambulance landed with an on board doctor.
Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service said the casualty, a 30-year-old man, couldn’t be moved initially because of his injuries. Firefighters cut off the roof of the cab of the left-hand drive vehicle to allow paramedics and the doctor to gain better access to him for the administration of drugs including anaesthetic.
The driver, who had been heading back to Bootle, was drifting in and out of consciousness but is believed to have “survivable injuries”. He was released and flown to Aintree University Hospital NHS within what the emergency services refer to as the “golden hour” giving the best possible chance.
There is an adverse camber on the carriageway at the point where the accident happened but it is not known if this was a factor in the incident. There were no other vehicles involved. Eye witnesses are helping police to piece together what happened.
Highways Agency staff and motorway police helped to manage traffic in the area which was gridlocked behind the accident scene.
