THE Highways Agency is awaiting the result of a police investigation into the horrific crash on the Weaver Viaduct in Frodsham that claimed the life of a petrol tanker driver last week.

Father-of-three Sean Hewitt, from Wythenshawe, pictured below, was driving his tanker on the northbound side of the viaduct when it is believed it clipped one of two cars parked on the road, sending it into the barrier and breaching it.

The tanker had just been filled with petrol and exploded into a ball of flames when it fell from the viaduct, 50 feet to the wasteland below.

Emergency services rallied to the scene and the M56 was closed in both directions between Junction 10 and 14 for almost eight hours.

The Guardian asked the Highways Agency, which is responsible for the maintenance of the M56, if it felt the barrier was strong enough in light of the nature of the accident and if it would be reviewing its effectiveness.

A spokesman said: "All our barriers are built to the same national standard, which is to stop a 1.5 tonne lorry travelling at 70mph up to a 20 degree angle.

"There's a need with barriers that they need to stop vehicles, rather than just bounce them back into the traffic or cause death on impact.

"All our barriers are maintained to that standard. In this particular case, the police are conducting an investigation into the circumstances of the accident and we have been cooperating as much as we can.

"We will await the outcome of these investigations and review the end report."

Anyone with information about the accident can call Cheshire Police's motorway unit on 01244 350000.

jsawyer@guardiangrp.co.uk