Christmas Day horror crash on M60 as driver falls asleep at wheel after 12-hour shift

A driver escaped serious injuries in a horror crash on the M60 after falling asleep at the wheel on the M60.

Police today shared photos of the crash on the motorway, near junction 23 for Ashton-under-Lyne, which happened at 6am on Christmas Day. The car ended up leaving the motorway and was left wrecked in the crash.

Officers said the driver was returning home after a 12-hour shift and fell asleep at the wheel before crashing. They escaped serious injuries but remain in hospital.

READ MORE: The frontline heroes working in Greater Manchester this Christmas Day

READ MORE: No Christmas was complete without a visit to this lost Manchester grotto

One lane was shut on the motorway for crews to recover the car. It re-opened at about 10am.

In a post on X - formerly Twitter - North West Motorway Police said: "This is the aftermath of an RTC at 6AM this morning on the M60 near junction 23, dvr just finished a 12 hour shift and fell asleep at the wheel, thankfully not serious injuries but likley to remain in hospital today, Please take a break if feeling tired."