M6 Crash Near Haydock Leaves Two Miles of Congestion 2026

Key Points

• The M6 in Greater Manchester was shut in both directions on Saturday, 14 November 2026, after a multi-vehicle crash that took place between junction 24 (Ashton-in-Makerfield) and junction 23 (Haydock).
• The multi-vehicle collision was the description provided by National Highways, while they further stated that the northbound carriageway was re-opened at 11:08 am, while the southbound carriageway remained closed to facilitate the vehicle recovery.
• According to the Greater Manchester Police, the officers responded to a reported single-vehicle road traffic collision in the Ashton-in-Makerfield area and also said that the M6 was closed southbound between junctions 24 and 25. The Police further stated that, as of the latest updates, no serious injuries and no arrests had been made.
• Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, North West Ambulance Service and North West Air Ambulance were at the accident scene. However, an air ambulance landed near the location but was not needed, as per the report by Greater Manchester Police.
• According to the National Highways, there were up to 25-minute delays and congestion of around two miles in peak disruption on approaches to the closure. A diversion route was established for southbound traffic, and the southbound carriageway was finally re-opened after recovery and cleaning operations.
• As far as the eyewitness account is concerned, there is mention of a vehicle on its side or roof. Such eyewitness account was reported by Manchester Evening News and Wigan Today, but was not issued as a finding by the police.

Manchester Crime (Manchester Mirror) November 14, 2026 — The M6 was closed in both directions between junction 24 for Ashton-in-Makerfield and junction 23 for Haydock after a serious multi-vehicle collision on Saturday morning, forcing drivers to face delays of up to 25 minutes and congestion stretching for around two miles.

National Highways said the northbound carriageway reopened by 11:08am, while the southbound carriageway remained shut for vehicle recovery. The agency said the closure followed a multi-vehicle collision, and that emergency services including Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, North West Ambulance Service and the North West Air Ambulance attended.

As reported by Ashlie Blakey of the Manchester Evening News, National Highways said in a post on X:

“Southbound remains closed for vehicle recovery following a multi vehicle collision. Northbound is now open. Current delays of 25 minutes on approach. 2 miles of congestion.”

Did anyone suffer serious injuries?

Greater Manchester Police said no serious injuries had been recorded and no arrests had been made at the time of its statement. The force said officers were responding to reports of a one-vehicle road traffic collision on the M6 between junctions 24 and 25 in the Ashton-in-Makerfield area.

As reported by the Bury Times, a Greater Manchester Police spokesperson said: “Officers are currently responding to reports of a one-vehicle road traffic collision on the M6 between J24 and J25 in the Ashton-in-Makerfield area. The M6 has been closed between J24 and J25 southbound.”

The spokesperson added: “No serious injuries have been recorded and no arrests have been made at this time.”

The Manchester Evening News reported that a Greater Manchester Police spokesperson confirmed police and the air ambulance attended the incident. The spokesperson said there did not appear to be any serious injuries and that the air ambulance had landed but was “no longer required”.

Why was an air ambulance sent?

An air ambulance landed near the scene as emergency services responded to the collision. The Bury Times reported that, although the air ambulance landed at the scene, it was not ultimately required.

The Manchester Evening News said eyewitnesses reported that an air ambulance had landed nearby. The publication also reported that police confirmed the air ambulance was no longer required after attending.

The Wigan Today reported that the North West Air Ambulance had been scrambled and that firefighters, paramedics and police were at the scene following an incident at around 10:10am on Saturday, November 14.

Which emergency services responded?

National Highways confirmed that Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, North West Ambulance Service and the North West Air Ambulance all attended the scene.

The Manchester Evening News reported that police, fire crews, paramedics and the air ambulance were at the scene. The Wigan Today similarly reported that multiple emergency vehicles were present, including firefighters, paramedics and police.

The St Helens Star reported that Greater Manchester Police confirmed officers were responding to reports of a collision on the M6 in the Ashton-in-Makerfield area. The publication said police confirmed no serious injuries had been reported and no arrests had been made.

How severe was the traffic disruption?

At the height of the disruption, National Highways reported delays of up to 25 minutes on the approach to the closure, with approximately two miles of congestion.

The Manchester Evening News reported that, at 11:03am, traffic was queuing for around two miles up to the incident on the M6 southbound. It also reported that congestion had reached back towards junction 25 on the M60 and that routes through Ashton-in-Makerfield were very slow as drivers sought alternatives.

Earlier in the morning, the Manchester Evening News reported delays of approximately 17 minutes and congestion extending for one mile. The Bury Times later reported that the disruption had increased to delays of up to 25 minutes and two miles of congestion.

Was a diversion route in place?

A diversion route was put in place for southbound traffic while the carriageway was closed. The Bury Times reported that the southbound carriageway was later reopened once recovery and clean-up operations were completed.

National Highways advised the public to avoid the area and encouraged motorists to make alternative travel arrangements where possible. The Liverpool Echo also reported that people were advised to avoid the area and that motorists were told to seek other routes.

What did eyewitnesses report?

Eyewitness accounts reported that a vehicle had turned onto its side or ended up on its roof. The Manchester Evening News attributed this account to a Greater Manchester Police spokesperson, who said the incident involved a vehicle turning onto its side.

The Wigan Today reported that a vehicle was said to have careered out of control and ended up on its roof on the southbound carriageway between junction 24 at Ashton and junction 23 at Haydock. The Blog Preston reported that emergency services were called to the M6 southbound between the two junctions at around 10:30am and found a serious multi-vehicle crash.

The Bury Times did not report any confirmed details about the number of vehicles involved beyond National Highways’ description of a multi-vehicle collision.

When was the motorway reopened?

The northbound carriageway reopened by 11:08am, according to National Highways. The southbound carriageway remained closed for vehicle recovery before being reopened later in the day after recovery and clean-up operations were completed.

The St Helens Star reported that the southbound carriageway remained closed while vehicle recovery work took place, while the northbound carriageway, which had also been closed, had reopened. The Blog Preston reported that the carriageway was closed in both directions to allow the air ambulance to land.

Background of the development

The M6 is a major motorway route through North West England, and the stretch between junction 23 at Haydock and junction 24 at Ashton-in-Makerfield lies on the boundary area between Greater Manchester and Merseyside. The junction 23 exit serves the East Lancashire Road, while junction 24 serves Ashton-in-Makerfield.

The closure occurred during a Saturday morning period, when traffic volumes on the route were sufficient to create substantial queues after the carriageway was shut. National Highways’ traffic updates said the southbound closure was necessary for vehicle recovery following the multi-vehicle collision.

The incident followed earlier M6 disruption in the same area. In October 2026, the St Helens Star reported that the M6 was closed northbound in Merseyside between junction 23 at Haydock and junction 24 for Ashton-in-Makerfield following a serious crash involving a van and a lorry, with a police collision investigation under way. In April 2025, the Bury Times reported a separate two-vehicle crash near Haydock between junctions 22 and 23 northbound, in which four people were taken to hospital with injuries believed not to be life-threatening.

Prediction: how this may affect drivers

For motorists travelling southbound through Greater Manchester, the closure is likely to have caused journey-time uncertainty, particularly for those using the M6 between Wigan, St Helens, Haydock and the wider North West network. The reported two-mile queue and 25-minute delay indicate that drivers approaching the scene would have needed additional time or alternative routes.

Drivers planning journeys through the area should continue to check live National Highways and traffic-service updates before setting off, as recovery work, lane restrictions or residual congestion can continue after a carriageway reopens. The reported diversion route and congestion on local roads through Ashton-in-Makerfield suggest that surrounding routes may also have experienced slower-than-normal traffic while drivers avoided the motorway.

For local residents and businesses near Haydock and Ashton-in-Makerfield, the incident may have increased traffic on alternative roads as drivers sought to bypass the closure. The police statement that no serious injuries were recorded and no arrests had been made provides the principal confirmed safety information available at the time of reporting.