A major Liverpool route, Edge Lane, was closed in both directions on Tuesday afternoon following a significant collision involving a civilian car and a Merseyside Police vehicle. The incident, which occurred around 1:50 pm on September 24, resulted in two people being hospitalised with serious injuries and caused widespread traffic disruption across the area.
Emergency services, including police, paramedics, and fire crews, attended the scene between Innovation Boulevard and Durning Road. The closure led to substantial congestion on surrounding routes and forced the diversion of several key bus services as authorities managed the aftermath.
Key Takeaways
- A collision occurred on Edge Lane at approximately 1:50 pm on September 24.
- The incident involved a Citroen car and a Merseyside Police vehicle responding to an emergency.
- Two occupants of the Citroen were taken to hospital with serious, but not life-threatening, injuries.
- Edge Lane was fully closed between Innovation Boulevard and Durning Road, causing major traffic delays.
- Bus services, including the 7, 78, 79, 79C, and 61, were diverted or curtailed due to the closure.
Details of the Collision
Merseyside Police confirmed that the crash involved a Citroen car and one of its marked police vehicles. At the time of the collision, the police car was reportedly responding to an emergency call. The incident took place on the A5047 Edge Lane, a critical artery connecting the city centre with the M62 motorway.
Following the crash, images from the scene showed significant damage to both vehicles, with the Citroen appearing to have come to rest on its side. A large police cordon was immediately established to secure the area for investigation and recovery work.
The two individuals inside the Citroen, a driver and a passenger, sustained injuries described by officials as serious. However, police have stated that their injuries are not believed to be life-threatening or life-changing. Both were transported to a local hospital by ambulance for treatment.
Incident Timeline
- 1:50 pm: Collision occurs on Edge Lane.
- After 2:00 pm: Emergency services arrive and establish a cordon.
- Approx. 4:00 pm: Police and traffic agencies confirm full road closure and advise public to avoid the area.
- 4:15 pm: Bus companies announce significant diversions and potential cancellations.
- 5:41 pm: Police confirm two people were seriously injured in the crash.
Impact on Local Traffic and Public Transport
The closure of all four lanes of Edge Lane during the afternoon peak period caused immediate and severe traffic congestion. Motorists were forced to find alternative routes, leading to knock-on delays on roads such as Wavertree Road and Irvine Street.
Traffic monitoring service Inrix reported "very slow traffic" and noted that congestion was affecting many surrounding roads as drivers diverted away from the incident. Commuters described the situation as "mayhem," with journey times significantly extended.
Bus Service Disruptions
Public transport was heavily impacted by the road closure. Arriva North West, a primary bus operator in the region, issued several updates throughout the afternoon, warning passengers of delays and route changes.
Confirmed Bus Diversions
Arriva North West confirmed the following service alterations:
- Service 7: Diverted via Innovation Boulevard, Wavertree Road, and Irvine Street in both directions, missing a section of Edge Lane.
- Services 78, 79, 79C, and 61 (Runcorn): Subject to significant delays due to the high volume of diverted traffic on Wavertree Road.
- Service 79: For a period, this service terminated at The Adelphi and resumed from Great Charlotte Street, omitting Hanover Street and Liverpool ONE to manage the severe congestion.
The operator urged passengers to allow considerable extra time for their journeys and monitored the situation closely, providing updates via social media.
Emergency Services Response and Official Statements
A large emergency service presence was visible at the scene for several hours. Multiple police cars, two ambulances, and at least one fire engine attended the incident. The primary role of the fire service in such events is to ensure the vehicles are safe and to assist with the extrication of any trapped individuals if required.
Merseyside Police provided an official statement to keep the public informed and to manage the flow of traffic around the closed-off area.
"Edge Lane has been closed in both directions from Holt Road to Wavertree Tech Park, this is due to an ongoing incident. We will update when it is back open, thank you for your cooperation."
Later, the force provided more specific details about the collision and the condition of those involved, confirming the nature of the injuries and that the police vehicle had been on an emergency response. As is standard procedure when a police vehicle is involved in a collision resulting in serious injury, the incident will likely be subject to a thorough internal review, and a referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) may be considered.
The road remained closed into the evening to allow for a full investigation of the crash scene and for the safe recovery of the vehicles involved. Authorities continued to advise drivers to seek alternative routes until the road was fully reopened.