M25 traffic LIVE: Motorway chaos with two vehicles on fire and queues stretching back miles

A large section of the M25 has been shut down after a devastating three-car crash[1] that triggered a horror fire, with smoke engulfing the motorway[2], causing widespread chaos and a complete traffic standstill. One person was rushed to hospital with "serious injuries" shortly after the collison at around 2pm this afternoon. Congestion has been reported between junction 13 for the A30 (Staines) and junction 12 (M3), all the way back to Heathrow Airport[3], with slow traffic on the opposite side due to onlookers.

Delays have been made even worse with the accident happening just before rush hour. Four lanes of the M25 were closed earlier, but two have now been re-opened, Surrey Police said. A spokesperson from the Surrey Fire and Rescue[4] service said: "We received a call this afternoon around 14.05pm to a report of a vehicle fire on the M25 between Junction 14 to 13, Staines to Egham.

Four fire engines were sent, arriving at the scene around 14.15pm. Three vehicles had been involved in a collision with two of the vehicles alight. Crews remain at the scene tackling the fire."

National Highways[5] estimated that delays of 45 minutes and 6-mile long queues. Traffic is being held because National Highways is waiting for Surrey Fire and Rescue to pack away and leave the scene.

18:40Zahra Khaliq

Drivers facing 45 minute delays and 6-mile long queues

There is still a 45 minute delay and 6 mile-long queue along the affected area of the M25, National Highways said. Traffic is expected to continue with recovery teams still working at the site.

18:36KEY EVENT

Van that caught fire removed from M25

A van that caught fire on the M25 after a horror crash this afternoon has been removed.

National Highways said traffic has been stopped to safely remove the lane closure. It said: "The vans which collided earlier, one of which caught fire, have been removed."

18:01Zahra Khaliq

Traffic also affecting the M4

Long delays on the M25 are also affecting drivers on the M4. There are currently delays of 90 minutes and 10-mile long queues, meaning congestion is stretching from J16 (M40) to the scene of the crash.

The incident has also affected drivers on the M4.

17:54Zahra Khaliq

Two people taken to hospital

Two people involved in the crash on the M25 this evening have been taken to St Peter's Hospital in Chertsey.

A spokesperson for The South East Coast Ambulance Service told SurreyLive: "I can confirm South East Coast Ambulance Service was called shortly before 2.10pm today (11 April) to reports of a multiple vehicle RTC on the M25 between junction 13 and junction 12. Two ambulance crews attended the scene and two patients have been assessed and treated before being taken to St Peter's Hospital in Chertsey."

17:52KEY EVENT

Two lanes re-open but severe delays continue

There are still severe delays on the M25 up to J15 (M4 interchange), with traffic slowing on the opposite side due to onlookers. Two of the four lanes closed are now open, but lanes four and five (of five) remain closed travelling anti-clockwise from J13 A30 (Staines) to J12 (M3 interchange) to allow for recovery to continue, Surrey Live reports.

17:32Zahra Khaliq

Two ambulance crews race to the scene

Two ambulance crews raced to the M25 following this afternoon's crash, the ambulance service has confirmed.

A spokesperson said: "I can confirm South East Coast Ambulance Service was called shortly before 2.10pm today (11 April) to reports of a multiple vehicle RTC on the M25 between junction 13 and junction 12. Two ambulance crews attended the scene and two patients have been assessed and treated before being taken to St Peter's Hospital in Chertsey."

17:24KEY EVENT

Drivers facing 90-minute delays and 10-mile long queues

According to National Highways, there is currently a 90-minute delay and congestion stretching ten miles. The traffic has been made even worse by rush hour, with hundreds of thousands of people attempting to commute home for the weekend.

UPDATE#M25 anti-clockwise between J13 (#Staines) and J12 (#M3) #Surrey[6][7][8][9]

LANES CLOSED

3 lanes (of 5) closed for recovery of vehicles following earlier collision and fire.

90 min delay and 10 miles of congestion from J16 (#M40) and also affecting #M4 links to M25. pic.twitter.com/lXyCl8g52Y[10][11][12]

-- National Highways: South-East (@HighwaysSEAST) April 11, 2025[13]17:23KEY EVENT

One person rushed to hospital

One person has been rushed to a nearby hospital after sustaining "serious injuries" in the crash this afternoon. A spokesperson for Surrey Police confirmed: "We received a report of a four-vehicle collision on the M25 anticlockwise between junctions 13 and 12, that took place at just before 2pm this afternoon (11 April). One person was taken to hospital for treatment of serious injuries.

Due to two of the vehicles catching fire, the road was temporarily closed, however two lanes are now open."

17:15Zahra Khaliq

Three cars involved in the crash, two on fire

Fire crews were alerted to the collision just after 2pm and arrived on the motorway minutes later where two cars were on fire. A spokesperson from the Surrey Fire and Rescue service said: "We received a call this afternoon around 14.05pm to a report of a vehicle fire on the M25 between Junction 14 to 13, Staines to Egham. Four fire engines were sent, arriving at the scene around 14.15pm.

Three vehicles had been involved in a collision with two of the vehicles alight.

Crews remain at the scene tackling the fire."

References

1. ^ shut down after a devastating three-car crash (www.mirror.co.uk)
2. ^ motorway (www.mirror.co.uk)
3. ^ Heathrow Airport (www.mirror.co.uk)
4. ^ Surrey Fire and Rescue (www.mirror.co.uk)
5. ^ National Highways (www.mirror.co.uk)
6. ^ #M25 (twitter.com)
7. ^ #Staines (twitter.com)
8. ^ #M3 (twitter.com)
9. ^ #Surrey (twitter.com)
10. ^ #M40 (twitter.com)
11. ^ #M4 (twitter.com)
12. ^ pic.twitter.com/lXyCl8g52Y (t.co)
13. ^ April 11, 2025 (twitter.com)