Lorry overturns on A5 blackspot

Motorists faced lengthy diversions today after a lorry crashed at an accident blackspot on the A5 at Chirk near Oswestry.

The crash at the Halton roundabout forced the closure of the main route for several hours.

Nobody was injured in the incident but motorists were diverted through Chirk and neighbouring villages, causing huge delays and congestion in the area.

A North Wales Police spokesman said: "We got the call just before 5.30am today.

"An articulated lorry had overturned and was causing major problems.

"The driver himself called in the crash and was not injured.

"Initially traffic could squeeze by by driving over the grass verge at the roundabout but later the road was closed to allow the recovery of the vehicle.

"The lorry was badly damaged and the road was damaged too.

"The road is likely to stay closed until noon.

"Traffic is being diverted through Chirk and on to Newbridge and towards Wrexham the back way.

"It is causing delays."

A North Wales Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said appliances from Chirk and Wrexham were called to the scene at about 5.30pm.

He said: "The crash happened at the roundabout which serves as a junction for the A483 and A5.

The wagon was badly damaged and the road was blocked.

"Our crews inspected the vehicle but did not have to take any action.

A motorist who saw the damage said it was "amazing" the driver escaped unhurt.

The witness, who preferred not to be named, said: "The cab was badly crushed. There was some logs on the road but that looked like it came from a lorry which had stopped behind the crashed truck.

"I presume the second lorry had to brake quickly and some of the logs came off.

"Vehicles travelling along the A5 from Llangollen were diverted through Chirk to the Gledrid roundabout.

"Despite it being the rush hour, when I passed through Chirk at about 8am, there were no delays caused by the extra traffic. It all seemed to be running very smoothly."