Story developing — confirmed facts and preliminary information are separated below.
An M62 crash today pattern has caused major delays across Britain’s busiest trans-Pennine motorway, with multiple collisions reported between Greater Manchester and West Yorkshire. The BBC, Manchester Evening News, Yorkshire Evening Post, and Liverpool Echo have all documented separate incidents stretching from Rochdale to Leeds — straining the corridor that connects Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds, and Hull.
Corridor Profile
The M62 is the United Kingdom’s primary east-west motorway, running 107 miles from Liverpool through Manchester, across the Pennines via the highest motorway point in England (1,221 feet near Saddleworth Moor), and on to Leeds, Hull, and the east coast. It carries an estimated 140,000 vehicles per day on its busiest stretches, making any incident a significant regional disruption. National Highways (formerly Highways England) is responsible for maintenance and traffic management, with traffic data provided by Inrix.
Incident Cluster
The BBC confirmed major delays on both the M60 and M62 after multiple crashes, with traffic diverted via exit and entry slip roads, delays of about 30 minutes, and 3 miles of congestion on the approach. The cluster of incidents suggests a challenging day on the corridor, with separate collisions at different points requiring independent responses from Greater Manchester Police, West Yorkshire Police, and National Highways traffic officers.
Rochdale Lane Closure
The Manchester Evening News reported that one lane of three remains closed on the M62 westbound near Rochdale within Junction 21 due to a collision, with emergency repairs scheduled to take place overnight. YappApp News documented live lane closures on the M62 eastbound between Junction 21 and Junction 22, where the hard shoulder, lane 1, and lane 2 were all shut due to a road traffic collision. The Rochdale corridor around J21 is one of the M62’s busiest sections, connecting the M60 Manchester ring road to the Pennine crossing.
Leeds Overturn
The Yorkshire Evening Post reported motorists facing delays of nearly one hour on the M62 after a car “overturned” near Leeds, with multiple lanes shut on the eastbound side. A vehicle overturning on a motorway typically triggers a full emergency response — including ambulance, fire crews for any fuel spill or entrapment, and police for scene preservation and investigation. The Leeds stretch of the M62 around Junction 27 (M621) and Junction 29 (M1) is notorious for congestion even without incidents.
Saddleworth Three-Vehicle
AOL documented major delays on the M62 after a three-vehicle crash between Junction 22 near Saddleworth and Junction 23 at Huddersfield, involving a motorcycle, a car, and another vehicle — with lane closures in place in both directions. The Saddleworth-Huddersfield stretch is the highest and most exposed section of the M62, where wind, rain, and poor visibility can rapidly change driving conditions. YappApp News separately reported a serious multi-vehicle crash involving a crushed car and two large vehicles on the M62 westbound, causing major delays.
Traveler Guidance
For travelers on the M62 today:
- Check National Highways Traffic England for live M62 updates.
- Follow Inrix and AA Route Planner for real-time delay information.
- Consider alternative routes via the M60, M61, or A-roads depending on destination.
- Allow extra time and expect significant delays on all M62 sections.
Conclusion
The M62 crash today pattern — with the Rochdale J21 lane closure, the Leeds car overturn, the Saddleworth-J22 three-vehicle crash, and the BBC-confirmed 30-minute delays with 3 miles of congestion — reflects a disrupted day on Britain’s key trans-Pennine corridor. Travelers should check National Highways Traffic England and Inrix before departing, consider alternative routes, and allow significant extra time for any M62 journey today.
M62 crash today, M62 accident today, M62 delays, M62 lanes closed, M62 Rochdale crash, M62 J21 collision, M62 Leeds overturn, M62 Saddleworth crash, M62 Huddersfield, M62 traffic, National Highways M62, M62 live updates
