A man has died following a collision between a van and a lorry on the M6 northbound on Sunday night. Merseyside Police have named the victim as 41-year-old Vadim Suflet, whose family is being supported by specialist officers.
The crash occurred at approximately 9.55pm on the northbound carriageway between junction 23 at Newton-le-Willows and junction 24 at Ashton-in-Makerfield. One of the vehicles burst into flames, and the van driver was declared dead at the scene. The lorry driver remained at the scene and is assisting police with their investigation.
Road Closure and Resurfacing
The northbound carriageway remains shut between junctions 23 and 24, with diversions in operation while emergency resurfacing works continue. National Highways confirmed the closure was expected to remain in effect throughout Monday and "into the night" due to significant damage to the road surface caused by the fire and a major fuel leak.
In a statement, the agency said: "The M6 in Greater Manchester is closed northbound between J23 (Newton Le Willows) and J24 (Ashton In Makerfield). This is to allow for emergency resurfacing works to take place following a serious collision which occurred just prior to 10pm last night (October 18)."
"The collision, involving a van and a lorry, resulted in one of the vehicles catching fire. This resulted in significant damage to the road surface from the fire and also a large fuel spillage."
Police Investigation and Witness Appeal
Police collision investigation works took place throughout the night and into the morning under a full closure of the road in both directions. The southbound carriageway re-opened at approximately 7.30am. Lanes 1, 2 and 3 of 4 require full resurfacing, and lane 4 must also remain closed until the works are completed for safety reasons. There is currently no estimated timeframe for when the northbound carriageway will reopen.
Detective Sergeant Andy Roper, from Merseyside Police's Matrix Serious Collision Investigation Unit, has made an urgent appeal for witnesses. He stated: "First and foremost, our heartfelt condolences are with Vadim's loved ones at this extremely difficult time. Our priority is to provide support and answers to his family to establish what happened, and to this end we are appealing for any witnesses to come forward as a matter of urgency."
"From initial enquiries, we know that a number of vehicles were in the vicinity of the collision at the time or immediately prior. If you were passing this incident and think you may have captured something on dashcam devices, please check and come forward, whether you were travelling on the northbound or southbound carriageways. You may hold vital evidence to assist our work."
Diversion Route and Contact Information
Road users heading northbound are advised to follow the hollow diamond diversion symbol on road signs: leave the M6 at J23 and take the second exit onto the A580 heading west, follow the A580 to the A580/A58 junction and turn right onto the A58 eastbound, then continue on the A58 eastbound back to the M6 J24 and rejoin the M6 northbound.
Motorists are urged to allow additional time for their journeys and consult the National Highways website before setting off. Anyone with information should contact Merseyside Police Serious Collision Investigation Unit on 0151 777 5747 quoting incident reference 26000857221, or contact the social media desk via Facebook or X @MerPolCC.
