Police car traffic disruption sparks miles of M6 delays
A police-led incident on the M6 near Warrington triggered police car traffic disruption on Monday afternoon, closing lanes northbound between junctions 19 and 20 and leaving about three miles of congestion with delays of up to 30 minutes, National Highways and local reports said.
Key Takeaways
- National Highways closed lanes one and two on the M6 northbound between J19 Tabley Interchange and J20 near the M56/Lymm Interchange.
- Officials reported delays of up to 30 minutes and about three miles of congestion near Warrington.
- Cheshire Police arrested a driver after a forced stop of a suspected stolen silver Dacia Duster, the Knutsford Guardian reported.
- The Liverpool Echo separately said Cheshire Police confirmed a police car with a flat tyre was causing the disruption.
- Police said there were no reports of injuries linked to the forced stop.
Drivers heading through Cheshire faced a messy Monday on the motorway as the incident unfolded between Knutsford and Lymm. Local outlets described an active police response on the northbound carriageway, with lane closures and slow-moving traffic stacking up for miles. For more odd and disruptive roadside stories, see Bizarre News & Florida Man on BlasterPost.
What caused the police car traffic disruption on the M6?
According to the Warrington Guardian, National Highways warned of an ongoing “police led incident” on the M6 northbound in Cheshire. Cheshire Police were on scene.
The Knutsford Guardian later reported that officers were called at around 12.30pm to stop a suspected stolen car between junctions 16 and 17. The driver of a silver Dacia Duster failed to stop and made off before officers brought the vehicle to a halt between junctions 19 and 20 after a minor collision.
Separately, the Liverpool Echo’s live updates said two northbound lanes were closed because of a police car with a flat tyre, and that Cheshire Police confirmed that account on Monday afternoon, July 27.
Where were drivers stuck, and how bad were the delays?
Lane closures sat between junction 19 (Knutsford/A556/Tabley Interchange) and junction 20 (Lymm Interchange/M56). National Highways said lanes one and two were shut, with current delays of up to 30 minutes on the approach and three miles of congestion.
The Knutsford Guardian said two lanes between those junctions were closed during the incident, with delays and at least one lane closure remaining afterward. The Echo likewise described slow traffic on that stretch while the carriageway disruption continued.
Was anyone arrested after the M6 forced stop?
Yes, according to Cheshire Police comments carried by the Knutsford Guardian. The driver was arrested at the scene on suspicion of failing to stop for officers, theft of a motor vehicle, driving without insurance, and driving without a licence.
Police said there were no reports of any injuries. The same report said delays between the junctions remained in place as one lane stayed closed while officers dealt with the aftermath.
Travelers should treat live motorway alerts as the final word while scenes like this clear, since lane status can change quickly after a police stop or vehicle recovery.