Dramatic pictures show mangled car in horrifying aftermath of M6 crash

This is the horrifying aftermath of a crash that shut the M6 this morning.

Emergency services were called to the one-vehicle smash on the northbound carriageway between junctions 26 and 27, near Wigan, shortly before 6.30am today (January 7).

A woman was cut free from the wreckage by firefighters before being taken to hospital.

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Miraculously, police say she suffered only 'minor injuries'.

Pictures shared by North West Motorway Police on Twitter show the mangled car, as well as damage to a barrier at the outer edge of the motorway.

While two railings appear to have snapped due to the impact of the crash, a third remained intact, preventing the car plunging from the 87ft-high Gathurst Viaduct.

The damaged barrier on the M6's Gathurst Viaduct, overlooking an 87 foot drop (North West Motorway Police)

Following the incident, the M6 has been shut for several hours leading to queues of traffic stretching back several miles.

Diversions remain in place, although the closure has also caused delays on the M58 and nearby roads.

Police say the northbound carriageway is likely to remain shut for most of the day while the vehicle is recovered and repairs are carried out.

Sharing the images on Twitter, North West Motorway Police said: "This was the scene on the M6 J26-J27 this morning.

"Driver taken to hospital with minor injuries after being extracted from the car by Fire & Rescue Service.

"The #M6 will remain closed NB at J26 (and from the M58 J6) for repairs & resurfacing for most of the day."

A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service added: “Just before 6.30am on Friday 7 January, fire crews were called to reports of a road traffic collision on the M6 northbound between junction 26 and 27 near Wigan.

“Two fire engines from Wigan fire station, as well as the technical rescue unit from Leigh, quickly attended the incident. The collision involved one car.

“Firefighters used specialist cutting equipment to remove a woman from the car, who was then transferred to the care of colleagues from North West Ambulance Service.

“Fire crews were in attendance for about an hour.”