What we know after Hampshire M3 crash hospitalised driver

At around 7.08am on Friday morning, a lorry crashed into the middle barrier on the northbound carriageway of the M3 between junctions 12 and 13. The crash led to the closure of all lanes on the M3 almost immediately after the incident, with traffic being diverted off the motorway at the A335 for several hours. Hampshire Police confirmed that the driver was taken to hospital, but the extent of their injuries remains unknown.

One eyewitness told the Echo that they saw chaos as cars had to filter from three lanes into one in order to exit the M3 via the A335 at Junction 13. He said that his journey from the M27 slip road up the M3 took 90 minutes, when it should have been barely a 10 minute drive under normal traffic conditions. The eyewitness said "severe congestion" was present throughout the link between the M27 and the M3.

With the slip road in Eastleigh [2] from Leigh road onto the M3 also closed, AA Traffic Map reported delays of over 35 minutes on the M27 during the incident's peak. Cars heading eastbound between Junction 4 and the M3 were travelling at an average speed of just 5mph. The slip road from the M27 to the M3 eastbound carriageway had its speed reduced to 40mph as delays and queues remained.

A temporary speed limit of 20mph was also put in place leading up to the crash site. At 11.20am, National Highways announced that the M3 had been reopened eastbound between J13 Southampton and J12 Eastleigh following the collision. However, they warned that delays of 20 minutes remained and advised motorists to allow extra time for their journeys.

Drivers were asked to follow a solid diamond diversion route throughout the incident with flashing orange electronic signs directing them off of the M3.

This took them off the M3 at junction 13 to the A335, then linking back up with the M3 further up the carriageway.

References

^ Motorway reopen after lorry crashes into central reservation - live (www.dailyecho.co.uk)
^ Eastleigh (www.dailyecho.co.uk)
^ Chaos as cars funnel into one lane after lorry hits central reservation (www.dailyecho.co.uk)