Cheshire Police arrested a driver on the M6 northbound on Monday, July 27, after a forced stop on a suspected stolen vehicle near Knutsford.
The incident was one of several police responses that caused extensive traffic delays across multiple junctions during the afternoon.
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The forced stop and arrest triggered miles of heavy traffic congestion extending north toward Warrington.
Motorists faced substantial travel disruptions as police operations restricted vehicle movement along the major transport corridor.
In a separate incident on the same afternoon, a Cheshire Police patrol vehicle suffered a flat tire, forcing authorities to close two northbound lanes.
The closure affected the stretch between Junction 19 at the A556 in Knutsford and Junction 20 at the M56 Lymm Interchange.
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Further south, another collision prompted additional lane closures between Junction 16 and Junction 17 near Sandbach, aggravating northbound traffic backlogs.
"Two traffic lanes are currently closed northbound whilst officers respond to the incident, with motorists advised to find alternative routes where possible," a spokesperson from Cheshire Police said.
Police personnel worked to clear the vehicle and manage the surrounding traffic flow during the operation.
"Thank you for your patience," a spokesperson from Cheshire Police added.
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Highways authorities advised drivers to expect severe delays and seek alternate routes while police cleared the affected motorway lanes.
