M40 fully reopens after ‘horrible’ lorry crash but delays remain

The M40 has now fully reopened after being closed in both directions after a lorry ploughed through the central reservation late on Friday (November 18) night. One passer-by described the crash as “horrible”. But delays remain in the area while traffic clears.

The collision occurred close to the junction with the M42 near Hockley Heath, south of Birmingham, close to the junction with the M42. The incident, involving a lorry crossing the central reservation, and had closed both carriageways of the motorway. The northbound carriageway was reopened but the southbound carriageway of the M40 remained closed between the M42 and junction 15, for some 12 hours.

Shortly before midday on Saturday, National Highways West Midlands Tweeted: “The M40 southbound between the M42 and J15 Warwick has reopened following an earlier collision. “The M40 north to M42 south link has also reopened. There are long residual delays on the M42 north approaching the M40 however these will now begin to ease.”

Traffic had backed up on the M40 northbound and the M42 both northbound and southbound. The crash was first reported by Inrix, the live online traffic and travel monitoring service, at 11.53 on Friday night. It said: “M40 in both directions closed due to serious accident from J16 A3400 Stratford Road ( Henley In Arden) to J3A M42 J3A.

A lorry has gone through the central reservation.” On Twitter, Warwickshire Police said that officers were currently at the scene of a serious collision on the M40 (J16) where it meets the M42 (J3A). Both sides of the carriageway were closed while police responded to the incident.

The force asked motorists to avoid the area where possible until further notice. Police repeated the same message on Facebook, drawing a response from a potential witness, who posted: “We were there and got directed past the scene and away, was bloody horrible.” No other details were available at present, but we will bring you updates as more information becomes available.

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