Traffic chaos on major UK motorway after woman seriously injured in horror camper van crash
A woman has been rushed to hospital with "serious injuries" following a horror crash between a camper van and a car along a major stretch of a UK motorway that sparked travel chaos.
Emergency services raced to the A1 (M) in Hertfordshire at 11:32 this morning following reports of a the "serious incident." Paramedics and police arrived soon after with an air ambulance crew also being scrambled.
The woman with serious injuries was transported to Addenbrookes Hospital, an East of England Ambulance Service (EEAS) spokesperson told The Mirror[1]. "Two ambulances, a rapid response vehicle, two ambulance officer vehicles and Essex and Herts Air Ambulance were sent to a road traffic collision this morning on the A1 near Hitchin this morning."
A Hertfordshire Fire & Rescue spokesperson told The Mirror that no one was trapped in either vehicle and that firefighters carried out precautionary checks on some of the people involved before assisting the air ambulance crew. Three fire engines were sent to the site of the crash.
A National Highways spokesperson said: "The A1(M) southbound in Hertfordshire is closed between J9 Letchworth Gate Interchange (Letchworth, Hitchin A505) and J8 Corey Mill Interchange (Stevenage A602). This is due to a serious incident. The scene is being managed by Hertfordshire Police with units from Hertfordshire Fire[2] & Rescue, East of England Ambulance Service (EEAS) and a helicopter from Essex & Hertfordshire Air Ambulance."
A Hertfordshire Police spokesperson said: "Officers are currently at the scene of a road traffic collision on the A1(M). The road was fully closed southbound between Junction 9 (Letchworth Gate) and 8 (Stevenage North) while emergency services attended. One lane currently remains shut, with the remaining two now having re-opened.
"Heavy traffic is expected to remain, and drivers are asked to allow some extra time to complete their journey."
National Highways has urged drivers to avoid the motorway with a diversion route now in place for those intending to use the southbound carriageway this afternoon.
Drivers are asked to follow the route marked with a solid triangle symbol on local road signs:
- Exit the A1(M) at J9
- At the roundabout take the first exit on to the A505 eastbound
- Follow the A505 to the next roundabout circulate it completely to head back west on the A505
- Turn left on to the B197
- Remain on the B197 to J8 of the A1(M)
- At the roundabout take the second exit to re-join the A1(M) southbound