M6 'to stay closed' after crash between three HGVs and car as emergency services swarm

Emergency services rushed to the scene at 4.10am on August 17 after three lorries and a car were involved in a serious collision on the M6 in North Staffordshire

Abigail Hunt Content Editor

07:16, 17 Aug 2026Updated 10:20, 18 Aug 2026

[Emergency services are responding to a 'very serious collision']

Emergency services are responding to a 'very serious collision'(Image: Traffic Cameras)

The M6 closed in both directions after police, firefighters and paramedics were scrambled to a "very serious" crash between three trucks and a car in North Staffordshire.

The collision led to the motorway being sealed off between junctions 15 and 16. National Highways have warned the smash could keep the northbound carriageway shut until this afternoon. Emergency crews were summoned to the scene at 4.10am this morning (August 17). National Highways has confirmed the southbound carriageway is now back open.

They have confirmed it is a "very serious" collision. A National Highways spokesperson said: "The M6 in Staffordshire is closed in both directions between Junction 15 and Junction 16.

[Three HGVs and one car have been caught up in a 'very serious crash' on the M6]

Three HGVs and one car have been caught up in a 'very serious crash' on the M6(Image: Traffic Cameras)

"This is due to a serious collision which occurred at approximately 4.10am on the morning of August 17 involving three heavy goods vehicles and a car on the northbound carriageway.

"Staffordshire Police, West Midlands Ambulance Service, Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service and National Highways units attended the incident promptly and confirmed this is a very serious collision and the closure will be protracted. The southbound carriageway has been closed to facilitate emergency service access to the scene.

"Road users caught within the closure between Junction 15 and the scene of the collision on the northbound carriageway will be released in due course but this will be a protracted process. There is no traffic caught within the southbound closure."

West Midlands Ambulance Service has confirmed it sent a number of resources to the scene. No further details on smash have been released.

A spokeswoman said: "We were called to reports of an RTC on the M6 between junctions 15 and 16 in Butterton, Newcastle and sent three ambulances, two paramedic officers, a MERIT trauma doctor with a critical care paramedic, the Trusts Hazardous Area Response Team and the Midlands Air Ambulance critical care car to the scene.

Northbound traffic to follow route marked with hollow diamond diversion symbol on local road signs:

Exit the M6 at J15 and join the A500 towards Stoke-on-Trent
Continue on the A500 Queensway to re-join the M6 at J16

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