M62 in West Yorkshire closed following tanker crash Published duration 17 May 2013

image caption The westbound carriageway was closed for the air ambulance to land

A lorry driver has been airlifted to hospital after a crash between his vehicle and a tanker that closed the M62 motorway.

The crash happened on the eastbound carriageway just before 13:00 BST between junctions 26 and 27 near Birstall, West Yorkshire.

All three lanes were reopened and queues were easing by 17:50 BST.

West Yorkshire Fire Service said a large goods vehicle had run into the back of a chemical tanker.

Flammable liquid

Mick Smith, from the fire service, said the driver of the lorry had leg injuries and was rescued by up to 20 firefighters.

A cordon was put up at one point after a small leak of flammable liquid from the tanker.

There were major delays on surrounding routes after traffic was diverted off the M62 during the closure.

image caption A cordon was put up after a small amount of flammable liquid leaked from the tanker

The westbound carriageway was also closed for a time to allow the air ambulance to land.

A West Yorkshire Police investigation is under way.

The crash comes four weeks after a fatal collision on the same motorway when six air ambulances landed on the carriageway.

Bethany Jones, 18, died when a minibus was in collision with a lorry on 26 April.