A man has died following a serious crash on the East Lancs Road in Haydock late Monday night, June 8. The incident occurred around 11pm on the westbound carriageway between Penny Lane and Kenyons Lane South, prompting a full road closure that lasted for hours.
Details of the Incident
Merseyside Police confirmed that a motorcycle collided with a lorry. The rider, a man in his 40s, was pronounced dead at the scene. His next of kin have been informed and are receiving support from specially trained officers.
Two lorries are believed to have been involved. Police stated that one lorry crashed head-on with the motorcyclist, while a second lorry may have been indirectly involved in the events leading up to the collision.
Arrests Made
A 28-year-old man from the Widnes area was arrested on suspicion of causing death by careless or inconsiderate driving, driving while unfit through drugs, and driving with a proportion of a controlled drug above the specified limit. A second man, aged 38 from Carmarthenshire, was arrested on suspicion of causing death by careless or inconsiderate driving and driving while unfit through drugs. Both remain in police custody as investigations continue.
Witness Accounts
Motorists reported being stuck on the East Lancs Road for over two hours while emergency services worked at the scene. One woman told the Liverpool ECHO: "It looked so bad. We were around ten cars away in the queue. I heard a truck hit a motorcyclist. Someone was being worked on in the road then the air ambulance came. We asked police if everyone was ok and he said no."
Road Closure and Investigation
The westbound carriageway remained closed on Tuesday morning for investigative work, with one lane later reopened. Detective Sergeant Andy Roper from Merseyside Police’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit said: "Our thoughts are with the man’s family at this incredibly difficult time. An investigation is ongoing and I would appeal to anyone who was travelling in the area at the time to check their dashcam footage for anything that may assist our enquiries, including footage of the collision itself or the moments leading up to it."
He added: "Front and rear dashcams can often capture vital evidence without the driver realising. We are particularly keen to review any footage showing either of the HGVs or the motorcycle involved in order to help establish exactly what happened. To assist potential witnesses, I can confirm that both HGVs believed to be involved were towing white trailers. One cab was dark in colour and the other was white with black stripes."
Police urge anyone with information, CCTV, or dashcam footage to contact the Serious Collision Investigation Unit on (0151) 777 5747 or email SCIU@merseyside.police.uk, quoting incident reference 26000456942. Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or via their website.
