M6 northbound shut after van driver dies in collision

A van driver died after a collision with a lorry on the M6 in north-west England, prompting a northbound closure for emergency resurfacing that continued into Monday night, October 19. Merseyside Police identified the driver as Vadim Suflet, 41. The crash happened at about 9:55 p.m. on Sunday, October 18, on the northbound carriageway between junction 23 at Newton-le-Willows and junction 24 at Ashton-in-Makerfield. Police said Suflet died after the collision. The lorry driver remained at the scene and was helping with the investigation. National Highways said one of the vehicles caught fire, damaging the road surface and causing a large fuel spillage. The damage required emergency resurfacing. Police investigation work took place overnight and into Monday morning while both directions were closed. The southbound carriageway reopened at about 7:30 a.m. Monday. The northbound carriageway remained shut between the junctions on Monday evening. National Highways said lanes one to three of the four-lane carriageway required full resurfacing, while the fourth lane also had to stay closed for safety until the work was complete. The agency expected the closure to continue overnight...