Motorway Shut As Police Hunt Escaped Prisoner
Police are searching for Jonathan Simpson after he escaped from HMP Thorn Cross
Traffic came to a halt on the M6 motorway this week as police hunted for an escaped prisoner who is still on the run.
Cheshire police closed the slip roads at junction 20 of the M6 in Lymm yesterday, 23 March, amid a search for Jonathan Simpson.
The 40-year-old absconded from HMP Thorn Cross in Cheshire yesterday morning, with police confirming to LADbible today he 'remains outstanding at this time'.
Simpson was last seen at the prison at about 9am, when he was wearing a dark navy Under Armour tracksuit.
He is described as being 5ft 11in (1.8m) tall and has green eyes, a beard, black shaved hair and the word Krystal tattooed on his upper right arm, according to a release from Cheshire constabulary.
He is known to have links in the West Yorkshire area.
The force conducted a two-hour search on the motorway on Wednesday evening before reopening the road.
Inspector Neil Anson said: "We currently have numerous officers and police dogs visible in ongoing searches for Simpson... Officers will be maintaining a presence around the prison and in the local area to provide reassurance to the community. If you have any concerns please do speak to one of them."
The closures caused queues that extended back to junction 19 and on to the M56, where some drivers found a silver lining in the delays by being able to treat themselves to an ice cream served from a stationary ice cream van.
Footage shared on Twitter by driver Ross Harper showed members of the public approaching the ice cream van amid the stationary traffic, with Harper saying: "No word of a lie, an ice cream van is serving ice cream, on the M56."
Harper told the MEN drivers were stuck on the M56 for 'around three hours', adding: "I think somebody must have knocked on the ice cream van window asking if they could get an ice cream and then the next thing you know more and more people were rocking up to get one, I was literally in stitches when I was watching it happen."
With the search for Simpson still underway, Anson has assured police are conducting numerous enquires but urged anyone who may see Simpson not to approach him.
"Instead call Cheshire Constabulary immediately on 999 quoting IML 1228955," the inspector said.
Information can also be passed on anonymously by calling Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Emily Brown