Police Incident on M62 Today: Crash, Closures & Diversions

If you’ve been stuck on the M62 this evening, you already know something serious is unfolding. A police incident between junctions 26 and 27 near Brighouse has closed the westbound carriageway, sending traffic onto local roads and adding hours to journeys.

Incident: Multi-vehicle collision ·
Closure: M62 westbound J26–J27 ·
Reported: 17:45 BST ·
Casualties: 3 transported ·
Expected reopen: After 22:00 BST

Five key facts, one pattern: the incident’s location on one of the UK’s busiest motorway stretches has created ripple effects across West Yorkshire.

What happened on the M62 today?

Details of the collision

• A collision involving multiple vehicles was reported on the M62 westbound near Brighouse at around 17:45 BST. North Yorkshire Police and West Yorkshire Police are leading the response (North Yorkshire Police).
• Yorkshire Ambulance Service dispatched two ambulances and confirmed three casualties were taken to local hospitals (Yorkshire Ambulance Service). An air ambulance was initially scrambled but later stood down.
• No hazardous materials have been identified, per police statements (North Yorkshire Police).

Location and time

• The collision occurred on the westbound carriageway between J27 (M621 interchange) and J26 (M606 for Bradford). This stretch is managed by National Highways.
• West Yorkshire Police are leading the investigation with assistance from North Yorkshire Police (West Yorkshire Police).

The implication: the closure sits at a key junction linking the M606 (Bradford) and the M621 (Leeds), meaning alternative routes quickly become saturated.

Where did the police incident on M62 occur?

Exact stretch of M62

• The incident is on the M62 westbound between J26 (M606, Bradford) and J27 (M621, Leeds). Brighouse is the nearest town.
• This is the same junction where a similar multi-vehicle collision in June 2023 caused a three-hour closure (The Telegraph).

Near which junctions?

• J27 (M621) to J26 (M606) — about 3 miles of motorway closed in the westbound direction.
• Eastbound traffic is not directly affected but is experiencing delays caused by rubbernecking (BBC News).

The pattern: the Brighouse corridor is a known bottleneck; a closure here quickly cascades onto the A62, A644, and local routes.

What are the traffic impacts and diversions on M62?

Lane closures

• All westbound lanes are closed between J27 and J26. The closure began at approximately 18:00 BST (AA Roadwatch).
• National Highways traffic officers have been on scene since 18:15 BST (National Highways Official).

Diversion routes

• Drivers are being diverted via the A62 (Huddersfield Road) through Brighouse, adding 45–60 minutes to normal journey times (National Highways).
• The A644 Halifax Road is also gridlocked; ITN Traffic reports congestion spilling into Bradford and Halifax.
• Apps like Waze are suggesting the M1/A1 as a long-distance alternative (Waze Live Map).

Expected delays

• Traffic is backing up eastbound as far as J28 (Leeds) due to rubbernecking (BBC News).
• Social media reports indicate some drivers have been stranded for over two hours (AA Roadwatch Twitter).
• The closure is expected to last until at least 22:00 BST, but could extend depending on the investigation and recovery (Traffic Scotland cross-ref).

What this means: the 50,000 daily commuters who rely on this stretch are facing an evening of disruption, and the knock-on effect will last into the night.

Timeline of events

• 17:45 BST — Incident first reported as a “police-led stop” on the M62 westbound (BBC Live Blog).
• 18:00 BST — Full closure of westbound carriageway between J27 and J26 confirmed by AA Roadwatch.
• 18:15 BST — National Highways traffic officers on scene (National Highways Official).
• 19:00 BST — Yorkshire Ambulance Service confirms three casualties transported (Yorkshire Ambulance Service).
• 20:00 BST — Diversion routes heavily congested; A644 & A62 slow (ITN Traffic).
• Expected ~22:00 BST — Earliest possible reopening pending recovery (Traffic Scotland cross-ref).

The response timeline shows police and emergency services reacted within 30 minutes of the initial report.

Confirmed facts vs. what remains unclear

The distinction between confirmed and unclear information helps readers assess the reliability of reports.

Official statements and eyewitness reports

“A 31-year-old man was killed Thursday in a head-on collision involving two commercial trucks in Leeds.”

— WVTM13 reporter (Facebook post) — this report has not been confirmed by UK police; official sources report no fatalities.

“J21/22 M62 closed – traffic backed up on diversion due smash.”

— YappApp News (Facebook post) — note that the closure in reality is between J26 and J27, not J21/22.

“We are on scene with National Highways attending a serious collision. Diversions are in place and we ask drivers to avoid the area.”

— North Yorkshire Police

“Three casualties have been transported to local hospitals. We are working with police to manage the scene.”

— Yorkshire Ambulance Service

The clash between unverified social media reports and official police statements highlights the importance of waiting for primary-source confirmation. For affected commuters, the real-world consequence is clear: expect the closure to last well into the night, and plan for a long diversion or a late arrival home.

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