A coach carrying Manchester City fans burst into flames on the M6 near junction three, causing significant travel disruption for supporters heading to the Carabao Cup final at Wembley.
The incident occurred as the coach was en route to the match, scheduled to kick off at 4:30pm. Fortunately, no injuries were reported among the passengers or the driver, as all were safely evacuated before firefighters arrived.
Emergency services, including the Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service, quickly attended the scene. The fire led to a complete standstill of traffic on the M6, with the southbound route closed between T4 (Weeford) and T2 (Coleshill).
Ridley Coaches, the operator of the affected vehicle, confirmed the incident, stating, “We can confirm an incident occurred involving one of our coaches on the M6 Toll southbound earlier today.” They also reassured that “all passengers and the driver were safely evacuated with no injuries.”
The M6 Toll closure has caused significant delays for fans trying to reach Wembley, with many expressing frustration over the unexpected disruption.
Passengers were transferred to replacement coaches to continue their journey to the final, ensuring that they could still attend the highly anticipated match.
National Highways reported, “The M6 Toll in Warwickshire is closed southbound between T4 (Weeford) and T2 (Coleshill) due to a coach fire.” This closure is expected to impact traffic for the foreseeable future.
As the situation develops, officials are monitoring the area closely to manage the aftermath of the incident and assist affected travelers.
Details remain unconfirmed regarding the cause of the fire, and further updates will be provided as more information becomes available.