Sloe lane: M6 closed after tanker spills 32,000 litres of gin

A portion of the UK motorway the M6 was closed yesterday after a heavy goods vehicle crashed into a tanker, spilling 32,000 litres of “concentrated gin” across the carriageway.

Image: North West Motorway Police.

The collision happened shortly before 5:30pm on 4 September, between junction 19 and 20 on the northbound section of the motorway, according to a statement by Cheshire Police.

A statement from the authorities continued: “Due to the flammability of the alcohol a decision was taken to close the motorway in both directions between junctions 19 and 20.

“A 300 metre cordon [was] also been put in place as a precautionary measure and a number of motorists who were stuck in the trapped traffic [were] evacuated from their vehicles.”

Firefighters worked to stem the source of the leak and coated the high-strength alcohol with foam to prevent it from igniting.

The gin, which was thought to be around 80% ABV, was then pumped into a replacement tanker. Local diversions were in place and police were still turning around vehicles trapped on the closed stretch of motorway as late as 11:30pm.

The M6 reopened just after 9:30am this morning (5 September). There were no reports of any injuries as a result of the collision.