All traffic was brought to a standstill on a major UK motorway this morning following a serious multi-vehicle collision and a dramatic car fire.
Major Incident Halts Motorway
The incident occurred on the northbound carriageway of the M6 near Knutsford. According to traffic data from Inrix, all lanes were blocked, causing a complete stop to the flow of vehicles. The disruption began in the morning of Saturday, 10 January 2026.
Emergency Services Scramble to Scene
Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service confirmed they were dealing with a four-vehicle collision. In a statement, they reported that one of the vehicles had caught fire. Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus quickly tackled the blaze using a hose reel jet and successfully extinguished it.
To ensure the safety of all involved and to allow emergency crews to work, all four lanes were initially closed. The fire service confirmed that one person is believed to have sustained injuries. All other occupants from the vehicles were accounted for and safe.
Recovery and Ongoing Delays
By 12:25pm, crews had managed to reopen lane four to begin moving the backlog of traffic. Firefighters remained on scene, monitoring the vehicle that had been on fire with a thermal imaging camera to prevent any reignition.
North West Ambulance Service was also in attendance, treating the one casualty. While recovery operations continue, drivers have been warned to expect significant delays while the motorway is fully cleared and investigations are conducted.
The emergency services have urged motorists to avoid the area if possible and to seek alternative routes while the situation is resolved.
