Two people taken to hospital after lorry and car smash shuts M1

Two people were taken to hospital after a lorry and car collided on the M1 on Wednesday, August 16. The smash, at around 1pm, led to a complete closure of the motorway between junctions 21A and 22.

Traffic was abruptly halted and held stationary on approach to the scene for several hours while the incident was dealt with. Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service[1] was called to the incident at 1.14pm where three people were injured, including one person who became trapped in the wreckage.

Crews, including technical rescue teams, from Wigston, Loughborough[2] and Southern Stations carried out a rescue operation to extricate the person from vehicle. Two people were later taken to hospital with injuries not believed to be life-changing or life-threatening, a spokesperson for the police said.

REAS MORE: A5 closed overnight as yet another lorry hits railway bridge and spills fuel across road[3]

A number of people who were uninjured were transported from the crash by National Highways officers. Meanwhile, drivers were diverted away from the scene as traffic built up on the M1.

Alternative routes also became heavily congested on A563 Lubbesthorpe Way, Braunstone Way and the A46 Leicester Western Bypass. National Highways urged drivers to plan ahead or delay journeys while the incident cleared.

The lorry and car were recovered from the scene at around 2.30pm and carriageway subsequently reopened, leaving around 30 minutes of residual delays.

We covered this incident live. Find all the updates in the blog posts below.

References

  1. ^ Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service (www.leicestermercury.co.uk)
  2. ^ Loughborough (www.leicestermercury.co.uk)
  3. ^ A5 closed overnight as yet another lorry hits railway bridge and spills fuel across road (www.leicestermercury.co.uk)