Overview
- Greater Manchester Police closed the M6 in both directions between J23 (Haydock) and J26 (Orrell/M58) after a woman was pronounced dead following a welfare call, with no estimate for reopening.
- Officers said the death is not being treated as suspicious; by mid‑afternoon delays had eased to roughly 20–30 minutes, with signed diversions via the M58, A570 and A580.
- A separate lorry fire closed the M25 anti‑clockwise between J25 (Waltham Cross) and J24 (Potters Bar) as fire crews tackled the blaze, and the clockwise carriageway later reopened.
- National Highways reported delays of up to about 60 minutes on the affected M25 stretch, with traffic diverted via the A10, A406 and A1.
- On the A34 northbound, a three‑HGV collision left one lorry down an embankment and damaged around 200 metres of barrier, requiring complex recovery and overnight repairs continuing into January 17.