M6 Chaos in Warwickshire: Police Incident and Car Fire Bring Traffic to a Standstill
Traffic on the M6 through Warwickshire ground to a halt this afternoon after a serious police incident, followed by a car fire that made the gridlock even worse. Drivers were trapped for hours, with some forced to abandon their vehicles and walk along the motorway as traffic stretched for miles.
Massive Delays and Chaos
Queues built up northbound between the M1/A14 Catthorpe Interchange and Junction 1 (Rugby/Lutterworth), while southbound traffic was snarled between Junction 2 (Coventry) and Junction 1. Warwickshire Police attended a concern-for-welfare incident, which was finally resolved by 3:35pm.
National Highways teams stepped in to control traffic and manage diversions during the full motorway closures. But just when things seemed to ease, a car caught fire around 5:00pm, forcing a temporary full closure northbound between Junctions 1 and 2. This added fresh chaos to the already tangled traffic situation.
All Lanes Reopened, But Delays Persist
By early evening, all lanes were finally reopened in both directions. However, lengthy delays remained, with traffic experts Inrix reporting tailbacks from M1 Junction 19 (Catthorpe) to Junction 1 (Rugby/Lutterworth) as the motorway struggled to return to normal.
Key Facts at a Glance
- M6 southbound closed between Junction 2 and Junction 1, northbound blocked from M1/A14 to Junction 1 during police incident.
- Police incident resolved around 3:35pm.
- Car fire at 5:00pm forced another northbound closure between Junctions 1 and 2.
- All lanes reopened later; congestion continued into the evening.
- Warwickshire Police and National Highways managed diversions and traffic flow.
Share Your Experience
If you were caught up in the chaos or witnessed the incidents, send your updates, photos, or dash-cam footage to our newsroom. Stay tuned for the latest on Warwickshire’s traffic conditions to help plan your journeys.
