A DRIVER suffered life-threatening injuries in a crash that closed the M62 for a number of hours earlier today.

LATEST: MAN IN CRITICAL CONDITION AFTER SUFFERING HEAD INJURIES IN DOUBLE LORRY CRASH THAT CLOSED M62

The motorway was shut in both directions after two lorries went through the central reservation at about 2.30pm.

The collision happened on the westbound carriageway between Junction 22 (Rishworth Moor) and Junction 24 (Ainley Top), with tailbacks stretching as far as junction 26 at Chain Bar.

West Yorkshire Police's Roads Policing Unit tweeted its thanks for the patience of motorists who were stuck in the traffic, and added: "Tonight a driver is suffering from life-threatening and/or life changing injuries."

Alternative routes were also traffic-choked as a knock-on effect of the incident.

Initially only lane three was affected, but traffic was stopped in both directions to assist the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.