M25 shut for eight hours after crash between lorry and two cars

Drivers stuck in queues stretching for 31 miles on the M25 are facing an eight-hour delay as a lorry driver fights for his life after crashing into two cars.

The three-vehicle crash has completely shut off the motorway in both directions after the lorry collided with a London taxi and red Citroen near Leatherhead, Surrey. 

The driver of the articulated lorry, which jackknifed and smashed through a steel side barrier at about 4.50am, was airlifted to hospital with life-threatening injuries. 

Motorists now face a long wait well into the afternoon sat motionless in their cars as emergency services desperately try to clear-up streams of diesel covering the road.

Highways England explained to disgruntled motorists that the obstacle was taking longer to clear than usual as the road needed to be re-laid due to the diesel spill. 

Many people have already been queuing since 5am this morning, with some taking to social media to express fears over missing flights from nearby Heathrow Airport.

Others told of their concerns over pets sat with them in their cars with no food or water as temperatures reach 73F (23C) near the capital. 

The lorry (pictured) smashed into two other vehicles this morning and the motorway is now closed in both directions as its driver fights for life

The lorry (pictured) jackknifed on the M25 in between junctions nine and 10 as it ploughed into two cars

The lorry (pictured) jackknifed on the M25 in between junctions nine and 10 as it ploughed into two cars

Pictured: Traffic is piling up on the M25 following a crash that left a lorry driver fighting life-threatening injuries

Pictured: Traffic is piling up on the M25 following a crash that left a lorry driver fighting life-threatening injuries 

A worried Kate Whitling tweeted Highways England asking if she was allowed to let her pets out onto the carriageway for a walk, adding: ‘I’m very concerned.’ 

The crash occurred between junction 9 at Leatherhead and junction 10 at Wisley, which connects Heathrow with Gatwick and is usually brimming with holidaymakers.

Queues are also now expected on the nearby M4 and M3, which are the gateways to holiday resorts on the south coast and south-west during the summer months.

The queues are currently stretching back to Godstone, causing tailbacks on the M23 as those travelling from the Brighton and the south-east head towards London.

Highways England explained that the recovery of the vehicles had been made especially difficult due to the position of the jackknifed lorry on the carriageway.

It added that the road surface would likely be re-laid due to the large diesel spillage before any cars would be allowed to use the road again.  

Motorists now face a long wait well into the afternoon sat motionless in their cars as emergency services desperately try to clear-up streams of diesel covering the road

Motorists now face a long wait well into the afternoon sat motionless in their cars as emergency services desperately try to clear-up streams of diesel covering the road

Pictured: The lorry on the M25 today, where there are 20-mile queues after the driver was left with life-threatening injuries

Pictured: The lorry on the M25 today, where there are 20-mile queues after the driver was left with life-threatening injuries 

Police said efforts to open the road were being slowed by the process of clearing up the diesel, causing one person to tweet: 'What they cleaning it with, a toothbrush?'

Police said efforts to open the road were being slowed by the process of clearing up the diesel, causing one person to tweet: ‘What they cleaning it with, a toothbrush?’

Upon hearing the news that delays could last up to eight hours, disgruntled motorists called on the emergency services to ‘hurry up’.

Police said efforts to open the road were being slowed by the process of clearing up the diesel, causing one person to tweet: ‘What they cleaning it with, a toothbrush?’

Kyron Smith was among those travelling to Thorpe Park, and told the BBC that he was stuck in a queue waiting to join the BBC at junction 8.

‘Nobody is moving,’ he said. ‘They haven’t got us any water and they haven’t let us turn back.

‘We have got nothing in the car, no water, and we can’t stop at a service station.’ 

A helicopter lands at the scene on the motorway after a lorry hit two cars near Leatherhead this morning

A helicopter lands at the scene on the motorway after a lorry hit two cars near Leatherhead this morning

Drivers have taken to social media to say that they had already been trapped in traffic for several hours this morning. 

Kate Whitling tweeted that she was stuck on the road with animals in the car, writing to the police and Highways England: ‘Please can we get an update?

‘I’m very concerned with animals in the car and need advice. Can I get them out of the car? Are we going to start moving? Over 3 hours now. Thank you.’

Meanwhile Kate Mellor tweeted that her daughter was trapped in the chaos as she struggles to get to the airport. 

‘Motorists are asked to find an alternative route at this time.’

Emergency services were called to reports of a crash on the clockwise carriageway at about 4.50am this morning. 

Pictured: Emergency services at the scene this morning on the M25, where a lorry hit two cars

Pictured: Emergency services at the scene this morning on the M25, where a lorry hit two cars

Police said that just after 8.45am the driver of the articulated lorry extricated from the wreckage and was airlifted to hospital.

A spokesperson said he had serious life threatening injuries while the other drivers walked away from the scene uninjured.

Highways England advised motorists to find an alternative route as both the motorway and the diversion routes were heavily congested.

A spokesman for Surrey Police urged drivers to use an alternative route in a statement confirming the collision.

‘The lorry driver has been taken to hospital by air ambulance with life threatening injuries,’ the force said. ‘The occupants of the other vehicles are not injured.

‘The M25 is closed between J9 for Leatherhead and J10 for Wisley, and is likely to be closed until mid-afternoon while emergency services are at the scene and a large diesel spill is cleared.

Traffic builds up anti-clockwise between junctions 9 - 10 on the Surrey stretch of the M25 after a lorry crashed earlier this morning

Traffic builds up anti-clockwise between junctions 9 – 10 on the Surrey stretch of the M25 after a lorry crashed earlier this morning

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