Police are investigating how a seriously injured woman came to be on the motorway, after she was found on the hard shoulder of the M57 near Kirkby.
Several police cars and two emergency paramedic vehicles attended the scene this morning, while the woman was rushed to hospital with serious injuries. Police were alerted to the woman on the carriageway by passing motorists at around 6am this morning.
The M57 was closed in both directions between junction 6 at Spencers Lane and junction 7 at Switch Island during the morning rush hour.
Early media reports suggested that the woman had been hit by a heavy goods vehicle, but Merseyside Police have since stated that they do not think a vehicle was involved in the incident.
A Merseyside Police spokesman said: “Officers were called at 6am today, Monday, March 20, following reports that motorists had seen a woman lying on the hard shoulder of the motorway on the northbound carriageway near junction 6.
“An investigation is currently underway to establish how she came to be there and she has been taken to hospital for treatment for her injuries.”
The incident caused major tailbacks in the area and led to traffic being diverted from the motorway.
Following the closure, both north and southbound directions of the motorway were reopened by 8am. Further details about how the woman ended up on the hard shoulder near to the Spencers Lane bridge are still unknown.
Merseyside Police are appealing to anyone with information regarding the incident to call 101.
Twitter: Liverpool Echo
What we know so far about the M57 incident (via @ConnorDunn7) https://t.co/LoqorktvHh pic.twitter.com/3IacxFTmzO
— Liverpool Echo (@LivEchonews) March 20, 2017