A LORRY driver was injured when a HGV smashed through a central barrier and crashed into a field after being driven the wrong way up a motorway.

The M65 was closed in both directions between junction five and junction six at Blackburn after the Hayton Coulthard lorry ploughed through the central reservation at 9.30am on Saturday.

Witnesses saw the 'out-of-control' lorry travel the wrong way up the eastbound carriageway – luckily missing oncoming traffic – before crashing through the barrier and ending up in a field on the westbound side.

A Blackburn with Darwen Council Facebook page said: "Information we have is that a lorry has travelled the wrong way on the eastbound side of motorway and has crashed through the central reservation and ended up in a field."

Lancashire Telegraph:

Marc Fretwell, from Burnley, said: “We didn’t see it come through the barrier but saw it hurtling towards oncoming traffic, including us.

“It was clearly out of control. We’re OK, and thankfully it didn’t hit anybody.”

The motorway remained closed for several hours as accident investigators were called in and work took place to fix the central barrier.

Lancashire Telegraph:

A police spokesman said: “The lorry has ended up going through the central reservation and has come to a stop in a nearby field.

“The driver has been taken to hospital with a suspected head injury.”

Highways England said around 100 metres of central reservation barrier was damaged.

A crane was used to pull the red lorry from the bushes next to the hard shoulder.

Lancashire Telegraph:

A police spokesman said: “We had to close this section of the motorway while we investigate and so the barrier can be repaired.”

One lane on the westbound carriageway was reopened at round 5.30pm, with one lane eastbound still open.

Overnight police reopened all lanes on both sides.

DID you see the lorry? Call our newsdesk on 01254 298225.

Lancashire Telegraph: