Dashcam captures Tesco lorry bursting into flames, leaving M25 and M26 closed


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Anthony Moc caught the moment the lorry exploded on his dashcam.

Thousands of drivers are suffering severe delays after a Tesco lorry crashed and burst into flames on one of the UK’s busiest motorways.

The clockwise carriageway of the M25 between Junction 5 in Kent and Junction 6 in Surrey remained closed at 6pm on Monday.

This is causing delays of two-and-a-half hours, with congestion stretching for four miles.

Video footage shows the lorry travelling along the M25 when it appears to hit a safety barrier and become engulfed in flames before coming to a standstill.

The crash happened in Surrey between Clacket Lane service station and Junction 6 at around 10pm on Sunday.

The driver sustained minor injuries, according to Surrey Police.

Anthony Moc had been driving home from Kent on the M25 when the lorry burst into flames.

“I was right behind the lorry when it exploded. It is quite scary because you don’t really expect it.”

It left him and his girlfriend in shock, “I didn’t really notice the lorry trying to exit the motorway until I saw a massive fireball.”

“That’s when I had to brake and go over the second and third lane.”

The lorry fire happened in Surrey between Clacket Lane service station and Junction 6 late on Sunday night, leaving the M25 and M26 closed.[1]

Anthony Moc was driving directly behind the lorry when it burst into flames. Credit: Anthony Moc

He was just seconds behind the lorry and feels lucky they had a narrow escape.

“I definitely was panicking a lot, I am still thinking about it a lot, especially knowing how I usually drive.”

“I usually rely on radar cruise control. For some reason it deactivated so I was forced to drive manually, so I was concentrating on the road a lot more.”

There had also been a 50mph speed limit in place due to roadworks and he says he feel lucky he didn’t move to overtake.

“I was very grateful to be honest because usually I like to keep up to the motorway limits, so there was a national speed limit sign next to the lorry, I would have accelerated to 70mph usually but I felt quite lazy and decided not to.”

“A lot of factors played out that helped me a lot.”

The clockwise carriageway remained closed throughout the day as specialist recovery cleared the road and the carriageway underwent resurfacing.

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References

  1. ^ The lorry fire happened in Surrey between Clacket Lane service station and Junction 6 late on Sunday night, leaving the M25 and M26 closed. (www.itv.com)