M25 is CLOSED for rush hour causing massive six-mile tailback after ambulance, HGV and car crash

M25 is CLOSED for rush hour causing massive six-mile tailback after serious crash involving an ambulance, HGV and car in Surrey

  • Crash happened near Surrey between junctions 8 and 10 at 3.30am today
  • It involved an ambulance, an HGV and a black BMW, whose driver was hurt
  • Surrey Police have warned M25 will be closed into rush hour and beyond 

An ambulance crash with a lorry and car shut down the M25 ahead of rush hour, affecting tens of thousands of motorists and causing a six mile queue.

The anti-clockwise stretch was closed near Reigate in Surrey between junctions 8 and 10 after the incident which happened at 3.30am.

It involved an ambulance, an HGV and a black BMW, whose driver was taken to hospital with serious leg injuries.

Queues of at least six miles were seen lining up behind the crash scene, which will keep the road closed until at least 10.30am. 

Police urged drivers not to video the accident on their phones as they pass after spotting them using their mobiles.

The people in the other vehicles were unhurt and did not need medical treatment. 

A passenger in a passing car said: ‘It’s a horrific accident. Just gone past it on the other side. Drive carefully everyone.

A picture of the scene on the M25 as traffic queued back after the early morning crash

‘It didn’t look good we’ve just passed it on the m25 and there wasn’t a recovery truck on site yet.’

A spokesperson for Surrey Police confirmed it was at the scene and trying to find out what had happened.

The effect of the closure caused chaos on other roads, as motorists tried to find alternative routes to avoid the crash.

Some mounted grass verges to get out of the jam, while other stretches including the A243 at Leatherhead faced their own knock-on queues.

One motorist complained of being stuck in gridlock for an hour after being caught up on M25

One motorist complained of being stuck in gridlock for an hour after being caught up on M25

Some motorists drove onto the grass verge in an effort to try and escape the miles long jam

Some motorists drove onto the grass verge in an effort to try and escape the miles long jam 

A police spokesman said: ‘We are appealing for witnesses after a collision involving a car, an ambulance and a HGV on the M25 in the early hours of this morning.

‘The collision happened just before 3.30 on the anticlockwise M25, between junctions 9 and 8, close to Walton on the Hill.

‘The driver of the car, a black BMW, suffered serious leg injuries in the collision and was taken to hospital by ambulance.

‘The occupants of the other vehicles were unharmed during the collision.The anticlockwise M25 has been closed at junction 9, and will remain closed for at least three hours – into the rush hour – while the vehicles are recovered, the scene is cleared and collision investigation officers carry out their work.

Detectives investigating the crash are now trying to piece together the sequence of events that led to the pile-up.

They are hoping the cameras on vehicles will help them to understand if any driving offences were carried out in the lead-up to the smash.

The police spokesman added: ‘Surrey Fire and Rescue service, and Highways England are assisting.

Officers are keen to speak to anyone who may have seen the collision, or captured the manner of driving of the vehicles on dash cam or helmet cam between 3.15 and 3.30 this morning.’ 

Highways England urged people to think about whether they needed to make the journey on the motorway.

They warned: ‘Please be aware there are long delays on the M25 anti-clockwise between J10 and J8 due to the ongoing collision.

‘There is approximately six miles of congestion which is likely to add around 60 mins onto usual journey times.’