Woman seriously injured and commuter chaos after car careers off M62

A WOMAN has been airlifted to hospital with potentially life-threatening injuries after a car careered down the embankment of the M62.

Two people had to be freed from the vehicle by firefighters after it came off the eastbound carriageway near Birstall at around 2.40pm yesterday.

The incident happened between the turn off for the M621 at junction 27 and junction 28 at Tingley.

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A specialist rescue unit was sent to the scene and two lanes of the motorway were closed leading to lengthy tailbacks during rush hour.

A woman was taken by air ambulance to Leeds General Infirmary with injuries described as “potentially life-threatening”.

A man, who was also in the vehicle, suffered minor injuries and was taken to hospital by road.

Fire crews from Morley, Batley, Hunslet and Cleckheaton who were sent to the scene called for extra help from the specialist technical rescue unit based at Cleckheaton fire station.

Police set up a diversion via the exit and entry slip roads at junction 27.

However, congestion was being reported as far back as junction 25 at Brighouse during rush hour.