A major road in Merseyside was closed for more than eight hours after tanker overturned following a crash.
A large gas tanker crashed on East Lancashire Road between Haydock and St Helens at around 4.15pm on Monday, August 29. After the tanker crashed into the central reservation it overturned and covered all three lanes of traffic heading towards Haydock.
Merseyside Police, Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service, the North West Ambulance Service and an air ambulance all attended the scene. The road was closed for more than eight hours on Monday and reopened at 12.29am on Tuesday.
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Before emergency services arrived, one eyewitness, who asked not to be named, described how they, and seven other people rushed to help the man driving the tanker.
The person said: "I think I just missed the crash. Several cars stopped and we saw that the driver was trapped inside semi-conscious. Around eight of us managed to break through the windscreen, and ended up pulling him out of the sunroof.
"There wasn't anyone else in the vehicle. The driver was carried out onto the carriageway and then moved further up the road as gas started to leak from the tanker."
It is understood the driver of the tanker suffered a medical episode, his condition today is unclear. Merseyside Police confirmed no other vehicles were involved in the crash.
The driver was conscious and breathing before being rushed to hospital on Monday. A spokesperson from the force said on Monday: "The emergency services responded following reports that a heavy goods vehicle overturned on the Manchester bound carriageway of the road at about 4.10pm.
"It is believed that the driver may have suffered a medical episode and he has been taken to hospital by ambulance. No other vehicles were involved in the incident and no-one else is injured."
Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service said they were called to the scene at 4.13pm and four fire engines arrived just seven minutes later. Two firefighters used one hose reel to fight a fire at the scene.
Once the fire was out, the service continued to monitor the scene and cover any fire risk. A 100m cordon in all directions was put in place as a precaution, which meant the railway line running between St Helens and Garswood was suspended and a Toby Carvery was closed.
Trains were cancelled or forced to be diverted via Newton-Le-Willows.
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