Latest news with #trafficjam
Associated Press
8 hours ago
- Climate
- Associated Press
Mudslide along West Virginia highway strands thousands for more than 8 hours
Thousands of motorists were stranded for more than eight hours along a section of rural interstate highway in southern West Virginia early Friday after a mudslide caused by heavy rains blocked a storm drain the previous night, flooding the northbound lanes. Traffic backed up for 12 miles (about 19 kilometers) along the West Virginia Turnpike about 20 miles (32 kilometers) south of Charleston, the state capital. Traffic was not rerouted, and many motorists along the mountainous route had no choice but to remain in their vehicles overnight. Motorists posted on social media that they had no information on why the standstill occurred, that they had nothing to drink in their vehicles or that their children needed to use the bathroom. Nicky Walters said in a telephone interview that she felt fortunate while she was stuck because she is healthy, did not not need medicine and had nobody she was responsible for caring for. 'But I felt desperate because I knew that other people needed help,' said Walters, who became stranded while returning to Charleston from a pro wrestling event in Mount Hope. 'People needed, at minimum, water bottles passed out and some snacks, much less information. They needed any lifeline to the outside world, and there was none.' Chuck Smith, executive director of the West Virginia Parkways Authority, said one lane reopened Friday morning but traffic remained at a standstill for hours. 'Traffic should have been detoured to allow drivers an alternate route around the mudslide,' Smith said in a statement. 'The Parkways Authority takes full responsibility for the failure to reroute traffic, and would like to assure the public that this will never happen again.' No injuries were reported. By the time Brittany Lemon and her family finally got home to Parkersburg, 24 hours had passed since they began returning from their vacation in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. In a video posted to Facebook, Lemon said she had no water and her children needed to use the bathroom. They were able to get an hour's sleep while stuck on the highway. 'Definitely next year when I go back, I'll be prepared for an emergency in the vehicle,' she said. Mitch Carmichael, a former cabinet secretary of the Department of Economic Development, said on Facebook that he was on the turnpike 'for hours with no relevant or timely info as to when issue will be cleared.' He called it 'incredibly unprofessional' for the public to be left in the dark and said it gives West Virginia 'a terrible image.' Gov. Patrick Morrisey said in a statement that the shutdown 'was completely unacceptable. I have directed the Parkways Authority to immediately conduct an investigation and revise its procedures as necessary as a result of this incident.' Shutdowns of the turnpike have happened before. In 2022 a tractor trailer crashed and spilled a chemical along the turnpike, closing all lanes for most of the day.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
'Idiot' drivers get out of cars and block emergency crews on hard shoulder amid M60 incident
Motorists stuck in queues for hours on the M60 on Sunday (June 22) have slammed 'idiot' drivers blocking emergency crews from using the hard shoulder and getting out of their vehicles. Fire crews, police and paramedics attended the incident on the clockwise carriageway near Sale following a concern for welfare report and a man being on the wrong side of the bridge. A full closure was put in place on the motorway while emergency crews responded. Drivers became stuck in miles of congestion as traffic was temporarily stopped. READ MORE: Live updates as M60 remains closed due to ongoing 'police incident' as diversion put in place READ MORE: LIVE: Huge emergency services presence as five rushed to hospital in house fire - updates Follow our live updates here. But amid the incident, those stuck in the closure claimed 'idiot' drivers were using the hard shoulder and blocking emergency vehicles, with motorway cameras showing people out of their vehicles and standing on the carriageway. "We have been sitting on the M60, having entered from the A56 heading towards Carrington Spur, for around two hours now," one person said. "A crowd of idiots then decided that they might be able to exit via the hard shoulder but just widened the traffic jam. Then more emergency vehicles tried to get through and really struggled. We all had to squeeze three lanes into two to accommodate those blocking the hard shoulder." Another said: "A major incident has occurred and ambulances are unable to get through due to various vehicles driving on the hard shoulder." A post on social media shared by another frustrated motorist added: "Sat on the M60 heading home and loads of cars have decided to drive down the hard shoulder and block the entire route for all the emergency services." A Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: "At just after 4.45pm today (Sunday 22 June) fire crews were called to reports of a man on the wrong side of the bridge on the M60 clockwise from junction 8 to 9. 'Two fire engines from Sale and Salford along with the Technical Response Unit from Leigh quickly attended the scene. 'Crews are working alongside Greater Manchester Police and North West Ambulance Service and remain in attendance.' Greater Manchester Police also confirmed they were in attendance following a concern for welfare call. The clockwise carriageway between junctions six and eight remained closed for a number of hours into Sunday night. A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police said: "M60 clockwise between J6 Sale and J8 Stretford remains closed whilst we and emergency service partners deal with an ongoing incident. The cooperation and patience of the public is appreciated whilst we work to bring this incident to a safe conclusion." --- Day in day out, our reporters in the Manchester Evening News newsroom bring you remarkable stories from all aspects of Mancunian life. However, with the pace of life these days, the frenetic news agenda and social media algorithms, you might not be getting a chance to read it. That's why every week our Features and Perspectives editor Rob Williams brings you Unmissable, highlighting the best of what we do - bringing it to you directly from us. Make sure you don't miss out, and see what else we have to offer, by clicking here and signing up for MEN Daily News. And be sure to join our politics writer Jo Timan every Sunday for his essential commentary on what matters most to you in Greater Manchester each week in our newsletter Due North. You can also sign up for that here. You can also get all your favourite content from the Manchester Evening News on WhatsApp. Click here to see everything we offer, including everything from breaking news to Coronation Street. If you prefer reading our stories on your phone, consider downloading the Manchester Evening News app here, and our news desk will make sure every time an essential story breaks, you'll be the first to hear about it. And finally, if there is a story you think our journalists should be looking into, we want to hear from you. Email us on newsdesk@ or give us a ring on 0161 211 2920.
Wall Street Journal
19-06-2025
- Wall Street Journal
How You Can Turn a Traffic Jam Into a Backroad Adventure
For the longest time I believed that you should always stay on the highway during a traffic jam because taking alternate routes would simply slow you down. The conventional wisdom stipulated that the shortest route between two points was the route you were already on, so you should just grin and bear it. Resist the temptation to leave the highway because you'll either get lost or you'll end up in yet another traffic jam caused by all the other drivers who allowed GPS to redirect them.
Daily Mail
16-06-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
Lorry leaves behind scene of destruction after swerving over M11 central reservation and flipping over sparking huge tailbacks near Stansted Airport
A lorry has overturned on a major motorway bringing traffic to a standstill as motorists complain of four-hour delays near Stansted Airport. The M11 in Essex is closed in both directions between Stansted Airport and Harlow after a heavy goods vehicle crossed the central reservation before overturning and coming to rest on its side. Emergency services rushed to the scene after the lorry swerved from the northbound carriageway at around 3pm today, with the air ambulance reportedly present. Pictures from the scene show the lorry on its side with debris scattered across the motoway, while another two vehicles have been left damaged following the collision. Essex police will carry out investigations and closures are expected to remain in place throughout the evening and into the night, the National Highways said. The force has warned that the closures will affect people travelling to Stansted Airport in the coming hours. Motorists have taken to social media vent their frustration after waiting in traffic for more than fours and following a series of crashes on the same stretch of the M11. One user on X said: @NationalHways how can people be left in their cars for over four hours with no sign of anything happening. 'Understandable that an accident has happened but you can turn cars around near the junctions. People have children and dogs. No shade and no water left.' Another added: 'When, in the name of God, will something be done about this deadly stretch of the #M11? Another serious crash, air ambulance, huge delays. 'Constant cost of disruption must be in the millions—average speed cameras would've paid for themselves.' National Highways said: 'The M11 in Essex is closed in both directions between J8 near Stansted Airport and J7A near Harlow North due to a serious collision involving an overturned heavy goods vehicle which has crossed from the northbound carriageway onto the southbound carriageway and has subsequently overturned and come to rest on its side. 'Essex police will be carrying out collision investigations throughout the evening. 'The closures are expected to remain in place for several hours throughout the evening and into the night. 'National Highways Traffic Officers and service providers are in attendance and are assisting with traffic management.' Traffic caught within the closure is currently being released via rearward relief and diversion have been put in place. Motorists wait outside their vehicles as some report being stationary for four hours Emergency services rushed to the scene after the the lorry swerved from the northbound carriageway at around 3pm today, with the air ambulance reportedly present A spokesperson for Essex Police said: 'The M11 is currently closed in both directions between junctions 8 and 7 following a serious collision. 'Emergency services are on the scene and the road will be closed for a number of hours. 'Please avoid the area if you can and find alternative routes This will affect people travelling to Stansted Airport. 'We will issue an update when we are able. Thank you for you patience.'
Al Bawaba
16-06-2025
- Politics
- Al Bawaba
Video: hundreds of Iranians flee Tehran
ALBAWABA - A video of a huge traffic jam on the highway was shared online, showing hundreds of people trying to escape from the Iranian capital of Tehran towards a safer place. Also Read Video: Israel targets Tehran's Mehrabad Airport This comes amid Israel's constant warning to Iranians to evacuate areas near all nuclear facilities in the country. The Israeli army spokesman, Avichay Adraee, released an evacuation warning that includes all weapons factories and their supporting facilities in Iran. "For your safety, we ask you to please immediately evacuate the areas of these facilities and to not return until further notice," Israel Army's Arabic spokesperson Avichay Adraee wrote in Farsi in a statement on X on Sunday. He added: "Being in the vicinity of these areas endangers your life." The warning came following an exchange of attacks between the two countries over the weekend, during which Tel Aviv killed key ranking Iranian military leaders, including Esmail Qaani. On the other hand, Iran also launched over 300 missiles, attacking Israel and announcing direct hits in Haifa and Tel Aviv, in addition to other areas.
