The M25 is closed anticlockwise between two junctions due to a crash involving an ambulance, lorry, and a BMW.
Highways England confirmed in the early hours of Tuesday (October 20) that the carriageway was shut between Junction 10 (A3) and Junction 8 (Reigate) due to the incident at around 3.30am.
Surrey Police said that one driver had suffered serious leg injuries in the collision, which was between a BMW, ambulance and lorry.
All emergency services were called to the scene including Surrey Fire and Rescue Service, and the road is expected to remain closed for a number of hours through rush hour.
Motorists have been warned to expect significant delays as a result, and queues are already beginning to form since around 6am on approach to Junction 10.
BerkshireLive will provide the latest traffic and travel updates via the live blog below.
Key Events
Why police closed the M25 for so long
Surrey Police has explained why the M25 was closed for more than nine hours following the three-vehicle collision on Tuesday (October 20).
For the full story, click here.
Only one person injured in collision
A Surrey Police spokesperson has provided more information about those involved in the collision.
The driver of the BMW was a 25-year-old man who was taken to hospital with serious leg injuries.
The ambulance involved was not responding to an incident or carrying a patient at the time, and had two crew members who were shaken but uninjured.
It is believed there was one person in the HGV who was also unharmed. The road has now reopened and is operating as normal.
Traffic easing
Inrix is now reporting:
Traffic easing, accident cleared on M25 anticlockwise from J10 A3 (Wisley Interchange) to J8 A217 (Reigate). Previous congestion to just over a mile before J10, with long delays along the diversion route.
All investigation work and clean up has been completed. Traffic was held while the restrictions were lifted safely and the road reopened.
M25 open, however delays remain
**UPDATE**
— Highways England (@HighwaysSEAST) October 20, 2020
The M25 J10 - J8 is now open however there long tail backs https://t.co/Mv6mZSeo3y
Map showing traffic levels
The map below shows the current traffic levels on the M25.
The area highlighted in red indicates very heavy traffic, while the black and white area indicates the motorway closure.
'Long delays' on the M25
The M25 remains closed between Junction 10 and Junction 8 and there are "long delays" following the earlier incident.
There is congestion to just before Junction 10, with long delays along the diversion route.
South East Coast Ambulance Service vehicle involved in collision, but crew uninjured
A spokesperson for South East Coast Ambulance Service confirmed that one its vehicles was involved in the collision, however the crew remained uninjured.
The spokesperson said:
I can confirm that one of our vehicles was involved in a collision on the M25 between Junction 9 and 8 at approximately 3.30am today.
The ambulance was not responding to an incident or carrying a patient at the time. The ambulance crew were shaken but uninjured.
The crew assessed the driver of the car and called for back up from colleagues. Ambulance crews and the air ambulance service attended the scene. The air ambulance team attended in a road vehicle, not the helicopter.
The driver was treated at the scene before being taken to St George’s Hospital in Tooting with serious leg injuries.
Investigation work complete
Inrix says the investigation work is now complete, however the process to clear the oil spillage remains ongoing.
Three fire engines sent to the scene, alongside a specialist vehicle
Surrey Fire and Rescue Service has provided the following statement on today's incident. A spokesperson said:
We received a call this morning at around 3.25am to a report of an RTC on the M25 anticlockwise, between Junctions 9 and 8.
Three fire engines were sent, alongside a specialist vehicle. One car had been involved in a collision.
Crews left the scene at around 4.35am.
Queuing traffic due to 'oil spillage and accident investigation work'
Traffic and travel service Inrix has issued the following update:
M25 anticlockwise closed severe delays, queuing traffic due to oil spillage and accident investigation work from J10 A3 (Wisley Interchange) to J8 A217 (Reigate).
Congestion to J11 A320 (Chertsey) and on the other side back to J8 due to onlookers, building up on the diversion route along the A3 and on the A243 as traffic approaches the roundabout at J9.
Delays now 90 minutes above usual journey times
Highways England is saying delays on the M25 anticlockwise are now 90 minutes above usual journey times.
Congestion is stretching back from Junction 10 to Junction 12, which is approximately 9 miles.
Journeys taking an hour longer
Highways England says there are still significant delays with journeys taking around an hour longer than usual. It doesn't look like it's going to get better anytime soon.
Please be aware there are long delays on the #M25 anti-clockwise between J10 and J8 due to the ongoing collision. There is approx. 6 miles of congestion which is likely to add around 60 mins onto usual journey times.
— Highways England (@HighwaysSEAST) October 20, 2020
Another M25 crash
Google maps suggests there has been another crash on the M25 betwteen J11 and J10 anticlockwise, in the West Byfleet area, on approach to the closure at J10.
There's a marker on the live traffic map with heavy congestion showing, but there's nothing showing as yet on Inrix. I'll update you when I find out more.
Congestion on the anticlockwise side is now back to the M3 Interchange.
Slip road still closed in Hertfordshire
A lorry fire on the M1 slip road to the M25 in Hertfordshire has closed it to traffic with around 12 miles of queues.
The fire was near Junction 6A of the M25.
Reigate Hill remains closed
On top of the M25 traffic being diverted to Reigate via the A217 just north of the town, there is the ongoing issue of Reigate Hill being shut on the other side of the roundabout junction for the M25.
Reigate Hill is shut for 14 weeks from September 6 so repairs can be made to the 240-metre stretch of embankment at its side.
Congestion on clockwise side
The clockwise carriageway has slow traffic back towards J8 as onlookers pass the accident scene near to J9.
Drivers taking videos
Surrey Police is reportedly having to tell drivers not to slow down and take videos of the aftermath of the M25 crash. Some passing by on the clockwise carriageway are reportedly recording footage of the scene.
Not only will this cause delays on the clockwise carriageway, it's illegal if you are using a phone while driving.
Road blocked in Esher
A separate incident in Surrey this morning has seen a bridge struck, causing the A309 Hampton Court Way in Esher to be blocked in both directions.
'Thoughts are with those involved'
Surrey Police has tweeted to warn drivers that traffic is only going to get worse this morning, adding that the force's thoughts are with those involved in the accident.
The M25 is closed from J10 - J8 & you cannot enter from J10 towards Gatwick. Due to the amount of traffic exiting at J10 the surrounding areas will be busy & will get worse as the morning goes on whilst the road remains closed. Thoughts are with those involved in the accident
— Surrey Police (@SurreyPolice) October 20, 2020
Another crash on M25
There's been a separate crash on the M25 anticlockwise in Hertfordshire this morning.
A lorry and a van were involved in the collision just before J23 for the A1(M). All lanes have reopened but there is congestion back to J25 at Enfield.
In the Surrey incident, traffic now backed up to about halfway between J10 and J11 at Chertsey as people approach the motorway closure. Expect that to get worse the morning progresses.
Full story | Official M25 diversion route
Below is the full official diversion route from Highways England around the closed carriageway.
The route is already suffering from some heavy congestion.
Full police statement
Earlier this morning, Surrey Police issued a statement on the incident that has closed the motorway.
It said in full:
Surrey Police is 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 3.30am 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. 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 3.15am and 3.30am this morning.
Anyone who believes they may have information that can help the investigation is asked to make contact - either by messaging on social media (@SurreyPolice), via chat on the the Surrey Police website (surrey.police.uk) or by calling 101 quoting reference PR/20244107.
Note that the closure is actually from Junction 10, not Junction 9.
SurreyLive will contact police and other emergency services for an update.
Heavy traffic in Leatherhead
There is now heavy traffic on the A243 at Leatherhead on the approach to the M25 at J9.
Whereabouts is the M25 closure?
In case anyone is not completely familiar with the layout of the M25 anticlockwise, the map below shows whereabouts the motorway has been closed off.
The crash itself reportedly occurred further down the carriageway, between Junction 9 (Leatherhead) and Junction 8 (Reigate).
Latest from Highways England
Here is the latest from Highways England on the closure.
REMINDER The #M25 is closed anti-clockwise between #J10 and #J8 due to a serious collision. This closure is likely to remain in place for some time. Please allow extra time for your journey and plan alternate routes.
— Highways England (@HighwaysSEAST) October 20, 2020
Diversion A3 > A240 > A217 > J8 M25
Traffic building on the A3
The diversion route is beginning to get congested already, with traffic building on the A3 at Wisley, where drivers are being diverted off the M25.
Some traffic had been trapped for two hours following the crash. It was released at about 5.35am, having been stuck since the collision at around 3.30am.
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What is the diversion route?
The official diversion route will take drivers off the M25 anticlockwise at Junction 10 (Wisley) to join the A3 then travel east to Tolworth.
Here, drivers should join the A240 south through Ewell and then onto Reigate Road (A240) to link up with the A217 Brighton Road at Burgh Heath.
Follow that down through Lower Kingswood to rejoin the M25 at Reigate.
What we know so far
These are the details we know at the moment:
- A car, an ambulance and a HGV collided between Junction 9 and 8 anticlockwise just before 3.30am
- The driver of the black BMW has serious leg injuries and is in hospital
- Nobody else was hurt
- The anticlockwise carriageway will remain closed between J10 and J8 into the morning rush hour
- Police are appealing for dash cam footage from anyone who was in the area before or during the crash, between 3.15am and 3.30am
