Motorists traveling through Staffordshire faced major delays on the M6 this weekend after a heavy goods vehicle (HGV) overturned late on August 8, 2025, causing a significant diesel spill and extensive damage to the motorway. The incident, which occurred just after 10pm between Junction 14 (Stafford) and Junction 15 (Stoke-on-Trent), led to the closure of the northbound carriageway and partial closure of the southbound lanes, with emergency services and highway maintenance teams working through the night and into the next day to manage the aftermath.
According to reports from NationalWorld and StokeonTrentLive, the HGV struck the central concrete barrier on the northbound side before overturning, spilling a large quantity of diesel across both carriageways. The resulting mess was not just a matter of clearing up debris; the diesel seeped into the tarmac, requiring significant resurfacing work before the road could be safely reopened. Contractors were tasked with removing the top layer of tarmac—often referred to as “planing”—from lanes 3 and 4 on the northbound side, with further repairs planned for the entire stretch overnight when traffic would be lighter.
The scale of the damage was immediately evident. Dale Hipkiss, National Highways Duty Manager, explained to NationalWorld, “Our aim is to get the northbound M6 reopen to traffic as soon as it is safe to do so. Removing the top layer of the road surface that has been significantly damaged by the diesel spill is the most effective way to do that and get traffic moving past that section at reduced speed. We can then carry out a full repair overnight when traffic is lighter, causing less disruption to road users.”
But even with a partial reopening, drivers were warned that a temporary speed limit of 40mph would be enforced on the northbound carriageway, and lane four of the southbound carriageway would remain closed throughout the day due to diesel contamination. National Highways, in updates posted to social media and their website, cautioned that the closure was likely to remain in effect for most of the morning of August 9, with full normal traffic flow not expected until resurfacing was complete.
Staffordshire Police, who were among the first on the scene, confirmed that the incident was a single-vehicle collision. In a statement quoted by StokeonTrentLive, a police spokesperson said, “Single vehicle RTC. HGV has collided with nearside and central barriers resulting in the HGV turning over spilling diesel all over the carriageway. Luckily no injuries report. Road likely to be closed most of the morning for resurfacing and repairs.”
Images shared by both the police and National Highways showed the aftermath: the lorry overturned on its side, recovery trucks and a crane on site, and a visible sheen of diesel across the tarmac. The sight was a sobering reminder of how a single incident can cascade into hours of disruption and costly repairs. Emergency services, including National Highways traffic officers and Staffordshire Police’s road crime team, coordinated efforts to turn around traffic caught in the closure and manage diversions.
For drivers, the situation was far from straightforward. National Highways advised those traveling northbound to follow the hollow triangle diversion symbol on road signs. The recommended route took motorists off at Junction 14, along the A34 northbound to the junction with the A500 at Hanford, and then westbound on the A500 to rejoin the M6 at Junction 15. But with the closure coinciding with the return of the football Championship season and the movement of an abnormal load elsewhere on the network, congestion was inevitable. Many travelers found themselves stuck in lengthy tailbacks, with some facing additional delays as traffic was diverted around the scene.
Throughout the ordeal, communication was key. Updates from National Highways, shared via X (formerly Twitter) and on their website, kept the public informed about the evolving situation. One post read: “The #M6 is CLOSED northbound between J14 (#Stafford) and J15 (#StokeOnTrent) due to a serious collision involving an overturned lorry. All emergency services are in attendance. Due to the nature of the incident, the road is likely to be closed for some time.”
Despite the dramatic nature of the crash and the extensive clean-up required, there was one piece of good news: no injuries were reported. Staffordshire Police reiterated this point, emphasizing that, while the lorry had struck both the nearside and central barriers before overturning, the driver and any potential passengers escaped unharmed. This outcome was a relief, considering the scale of the incident and the risks posed by both the collision and the hazardous diesel spill.
As the morning progressed, contractors worked to recover the overturned lorry using heavy machinery, including cranes and recovery trucks. Once the vehicle was removed, attention turned to the diesel spill. According to StokeonTrentLive, dealing with such spills “traditionally has involved a level of resurfacing being carried out,” a process that cannot be rushed if the motorway is to be made safe for future use.
The impact of the closure rippled out across the region. Commuters, freight haulers, and football fans alike were affected, with some expressing frustration at the delays but also understanding the necessity of the repairs. National Highways and Staffordshire Police urged patience, reminding the public that the safety of road users was paramount. Further updates about the reopening of the northbound carriageway and ongoing repairs were promised on the National Highways website’s Traffic Alerts section.
By midday on August 9, traffic monitoring systems like Inrix reported continuing delays, with lane closures still in effect and resurfacing crews hard at work. The hope was that, by carrying out a full resurfacing operation overnight, the motorway could return to normal by the following day, minimizing the long-term impact on one of the UK’s busiest transport arteries.
In the end, the M6 incident served as a stark reminder of the vulnerability of vital infrastructure to unexpected events—and the importance of rapid, coordinated response from emergency services and road maintenance teams. For now, drivers are urged to check for updates, follow diversion routes, and allow extra time for their journeys as Staffordshire’s stretch of the M6 recovers from a night of chaos.
