A local mum has thanked lorry drivers and other motorists who shared refreshments while they spent hours in their vehicles in sweltering heat after a HGV collided with a railway bridge on the M6 near Sandbach.

Samantha Moore was on her way to Middlewich on the M6 yesterday when she got caught up in the long queues on the road after a HGV collided with a railway bridge.

The 34 year old joined the M6 at Junction 16 at around 9am but didn't arrive back at her Coronation Avenue home in Alsager until 10 pm last night – more than 12 hours later. Now the residential care worker says she will always carry emergency refreshments and a phone charger in her car.

Samantha says the ordeal has left her exhausted but she says whatever she is feeling, it's nothing compared with how the family and friends of the lorry driver who sadly died at the scene must be feeling.

She said: "I didn't have any food with me but other drivers gave me food and drink. Everyone was sharing what they had and lorry drivers were letting people sit in her air conditioned cabs to get out of the heat.

"People were chatting between cars and keeping each other going. I was on my own and just glad I didn't have my children with me but whatever I am feeling it's nothing compared with the family of the man who died.

"I just kept thinking I am alive and here and the wait was nothing like what that poor man's family be feeling right now. It was such a relief when I finally got off the motorway at Sandbach at 9.30 pm.

"When I walked through the door at 10pm, I went straight to the toilet and got something to eat. People were walking to the services as hardly anyone had food.

"There was an elderly couple and I think the woman was suffering from heat stroke. A few people were getting upset but overall everyone stayed calm."

Police were called to reports of a serious collision on the northbound carriageway just after 8 am yesterday (Tuesday) and found a blue and white HGV had collided with a railway bridge.

The driver of the HGV, a man in his 60's, died at the scene. No other vehicles were involved in the incident.

The accident happened on the northbound carriageway between Junction 17, Sandbach and Junction 18, Middlewich.

The carriageway was closed and train services were cancelled following yesterday's crash. Motorists still faced delays today as two lanes of the northbound carriageway remain closed for emergency bridge repairs.

Police have launched an investigation and officers are keen to hear from anyone who witnessed the collision, or anyone with any CCTV or dash cam footage which may help their investigation.

Anyone with information is asked to call Cheshire police on 101, or visit www.cheshire.police.uk/tua, quoiting IML 1079063.