The Sentinel reported that police closed the exit towards Hanley Road at Smallthorne roundabouts in Stoke-on-Trent on the evening of 22 October 2026, after a taxi was seen on a crushed guardrail. Its live report was updated at 05:38 on 23 October. Sentinel live report
Witnesses first reported the incident at about 6pm. An eyewitness described the taxi mounting the guardrail as it left the roundabouts, with no other obviously damaged cars at the scene. An update timed at 6.27pm, drawing on Google Maps, placed the crash near the Hanley Road exit and recorded delays across the roundabouts, with queues on Moorland Road, Ford Green Road and High Lane. Inrix had posted no update, and the number of vehicles was still unknown. The live report later recorded that the collision had been cleared.
The police account
On the morning of 23 October, The Sentinel carried Staffordshire Police's account of the call. Officers were sent to the Hanley Road and Sneyd Hill junction at about 5.50pm, in the evening rush hour. Motorists reported the top of Sneyd Hill blocked, with long queues in the area. Sentinel report
"We were called to Hanley Road following reports of a collision involving a car and a van. Nobody was reported and recovery was arranged for the car."