A417: Crash causing traffic chaos on key road in Cirencester

Gloucestershire police said that the force was called to the crash on the A417 southbound near the junction for the services in Cirencester this morning, Thursday, February 13. Nobody was thought to have been injured in the collision. However, one lane of the road is still closed.

A spokesperson for Gloucestershire police said: "Police were called to a two-vehicle collision on the A417 southbound, close to the junction for the services at Cirencester, at around 10.50am today, Thursday, February 13. "Nobody was believed to be injured in the collision. "One lane currently remains closed."

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service said: "We were requested to attend by the police to help make the area safe and were called at 11.47am. "One fire engine was sent from Cirencester and another from Cheltenham as a backup. "Crews assisted with disconnecting the battery of an electric car, and the stop time was 12.31pm."

The Swindon Advertiser[1] reported at 12.25pm that an eyewitness who had spent the last hour in standstill traffic had said: "A black saloon car and a large white truck look like they've crashed just north of the junction to Cirencester. "The car looks completely written off, and its front wheel is all broken off. "There's also damage to the truck.

"A police van and a fire engine are still at the scene. "Once you pass that incident, it's all clear after that." The AA and Google were both reporting that there had been a collision on the A417 near Travelodge Cirencester.

The AA's Traffic news map said: "Road blocked and queueing traffic due to crash on A417 eastbound from Daglingworth turn-off to Lechlade turning." This was first reported at 11.39am today. A photo taken on the A417 southbound and published on the Swindon Advertiser website at 11.26am showed long queues in both lanes heading into Swindon from Cirencester.

Motorists were reportedly being held at a standstill. One motorist who was stuck in traffic on the A417 told the Swindon Advertiser: "It's totally stationary." Just after 11.30am, it was reported that a police van and police car had been seen travelling northbound along the A417 at high speed.

Soon after, a Highways Agency incident support vehicle was sighted travelling southbound along a path which had been cleared between the two lanes of standstill traffic. A police van with flashing lights followed. Just after 12pm, it was reported that a fire engine had been seen travelling at speed along the A417.

Then, at 12.17pm, the Swindon Advertiser reported that one motorist stuck in the A417 traffic had said: "We were completely stationary before and now we're rolling at about 8 to 10mph and have been for a minute or two, so something's definitely changed. "Not sure if anyone is able to actually get through." National Highways has also reported that the incident isn't expected to clear until 1.45pm to 2pm.

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References

1. ^ Swindon Advertiser (www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk)