M20 closed after lorries collide

Police in Kent are warning motorists of congestion around the coast-bound carriage at junction 10 of the M20 following a four lorry crash.

Traffic is being diverted off the slip road at junction 10 and back onto the motorway via the on-slip at the same junction.

Delays in the area could continue until around midnight or the early hours of Friday as the damaged carriageway needs resurfacing.

Two lorry drivers were taken to hospital after the incident with serious injuries.

They remain in hospital at present. The other two lorry drivers were uninjured.

Inspector Geoff Wood, of Kent Police's Traffic Department said: "We are working to establish exactly what happened to cause this collision. Anyone who saw the collision or has any information should contact officers at Kent Police on 01622 798538."

The M20 coast-bound has been reopened at junction 9 after a crash involving four lorries.

However, traffic is being diverted off the slip road at junction 10 and back onto the motorway via the on-slip at the same junction.

Motorists are advised there are delays in the area which will continue until this evening. Recovery of the lorries has not been completed yet.

Two of the lorries had to be unloaded to enable this. The road, when clear of the lorries and debris, will then need to be assessed for damage and repair.

Two lorry drivers were taken to hospital after the incident with serious injuries. The other two lorry drivers were uninjured.

David Johns reports from the scene of the M20 where four lorries crashed in the early hours of this morning. Recovery work is still in progress and the road not likely to open until this evening, police say.

Kent Police is advising motorists to avoid the M20 coastbound until 6pm.

Officers were called at 12.20am to a multi-vehicle collision on the coastbound carriageway of the M20 near junction 10. Two lorry drivers were taken to hospital with serious injuries.

The other two lorry drivers were uninjured.

The carriageway is likely to remain closed between J9 and 10 until around 6pm tonight as two of the lorries need to be unloaded before they can be recovered with the other two lorries, and a significant diesel spillage has caused serious damage to the carriageway.

All lorries were fully loaded.

Traffic officers, together with Highways Agency, are in the area assisting with traffic flow.

Traffic is being diverted off the M20 at J9 and directed through Ashford on the A20, to rejoin the motorway at J10.

Anyone who witnessed the collision is asked to contact Kent Police on 01622 798538.

Kent Police is advising motorists that the M20 coast-bound between junctions 9 and 10 is likely to remain closed until around 6pm tonight after a multi-vehicle collision last night.

Road users are advised that the coastbound M20 is currently closed between junctions 9 and 10 near Ashford following an earlier serious incident involving four HGVs.

The closure is expected to remain throughout the morning peak period and drivers heading for Dover are advised to use the A2 and M2.

Due to refurbishment of the Stockbury Viaduct, there is a contraflow system and temporary 40mph speed limit in operation at junction 5 of the M2, near Sittingbourne.

The operation to remove the HGVs from the carriageway has begun. Due to the size of the vehicles this is expected to take some time.

As a result of the incident there was a large diesel spillage across the carriageway which may have damaged the road surface.

Once the vehicles have been removed the condition of the carriageway will be assessed and any necessary resurfacing will be carried out, which again could take several hours

Four lorries have been involved in a multiple collision on the coastbound section of the M20 near junction 10, which occurred around midnight last night.

Two lorry drivers have been taken to the William Harvey Hospital with serious injuries.

The section between junctions 9 and 10 is expected to remain closed until after lunchtime while the investigation continues and the lorries and debris are cleared from the scene. A diversion is in place.

Anyone who witnessed the incident is asked to contact Kent Police on 01622 798538.