A LORRY driver from Carlisle was at the centre of a crash which closed the M6 for 21 hours.

He was airlifted by medics after a collision involving three lorries that led to lengthy diversions and delays.

The 56-year-old, who remains in the Royal Preston Hospital in a stable condition, is a driver for WM Armstrong Group, based in Longtown.

Police said the milk tanker he was driving south collided with the rear of an articulated lorry at the end of a stationary queue of traffic near Carnforth, between junctions 34 and 35, on Monday

A spokesman for Lancashire Constabulary said: “The lorry then shunted forward, causing it to collide with the rear offside of a tipper HGV.

“The milk tanker jack-knifed and collided with the central reservation, causing debris to fall on to the northbound carriageway, which in turn collided with a BMW saloon car, causing minor damage.”

Both milk and fuel leaked on to the carriageway and the articulated lorry shed its load of wooden floor panels.

WM Armstrong Group’s managing director, Jennifer Whyberd CORR , said: “We’ve had a vehicle involved in an accident and the driver is in hospital. We’re all concerned for his health. We don’t know anything about what happened. We’re just working with the police and hopefully he recovers well.”

The driver suffered serious injuries to his neck, spine, pelvis and legs.

The collision, which happened at about 6am, closed all lanes of the southbound carriageway while emergency services worked for several hours to free one of the drivers from his vehicle.

A second lorry involved in the crash was from another Longtown haulage firm, RJ Murray & Son.

Owner Steven Murray said: “Our driver was okay – walking wounded with a few cuts and bruises but nothing serious. He was checked over in hospital and released later that day.”

The 50-year-old, from Glasgow, was travelling to the Midlands and was less than an hour into his journey before the crash on the M6 southbound. He was taken to the Royal Lancaster Infirmary. Mr Murray said his driver will hopefully be back to work next week.

The driver of the third lorry was not reported to be taken to hospital but Cumbrians are being asked if they know a heroic man who helped rescue him from the wreckage.

Jason ‘Jimmypop’ Dann, of Walsall in the West Midlands, is appealing for help to find an unknown car driver who pulled his dad to safety through the windscreen of his lorry.

His post on Facebook said: “My family and I all wish to track this person down so that we can thank him for his bravery in the face of danger and for making sure my father is still here to fight another day. I ask all my friends to share this post in a hope that this person will see this and contact me. You are a true hero.”

It has already reached two men who helped lift the man into the cab. They described him as average height, wearing black clothing, glasses and a baseball cap.

This and an earlier incident, where a tanker collided with the central reservation at junction 34, spilling 300 litres of fuel, meant a 12-mile stretch of the road was closed throughout the day.

Highways teams worked around the clock to complete repairs by 3am on Tuesday. The road needed to be resurfaced because of the large diesel spillage. Investigations are on-going and officers and are appealing for any witnesses to come forward.

Sergeant Tracey Ward said: “This was a serious collision which left one man with serious injuries and he faces a long road to recovery. Our investigation to establish how this major collision occurred is still on-going. I would urge anyone who witnessed what happened or has any information that could assist with our investigation and has not yet spoken to us to get in touch as soon as possible.”

Contact Lancashire Constabulary on 101, quoting log 181 of March 7.