Emergency services rush to M3 to deal with two incidents

Hampshire Police were called to a crash on the M3 between Basingstoke and Hook [1] at Junction 6 just before 7am on Thursday, July 10, due to a four-vehicle crash on the northbound carriageway. At the same time, near the same spot on the southbound carriageway, a truck sustained a suspected tyre blowout. The motorway was subsequently closed in both directions, causing long delays for commuters before work.

Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service [2], Hampshire Police and South Central Ambulance Service were all deployed to the scene. A spokesperson from the ambulance service said: "We sent four ambulances and one rapid response vehicle to this incident. "It was reported to us as two separate incidents on either side of the carriageway - one which involved a car overturning on the northbound carriageway and a separate incident at/near the same spot on the southbound carriageway involving a truck sustaining a suspected tire blow out between junctions 5 and 6 around 06:45 this morning.

"Two patients were taken to North Hampshire Hospital with serious, but not life-threatening injuries, and two further patients were assessed and treated at the scene." A spokesperson for Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service said: "Basingstoke firefighters were called at 7 am to a multi-vehicle road traffic collision on the northbound M3, between junctions 5 and 6. "Fortunately, no one was trapped, and Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service crews worked to make the scene safe before returning to the station following the stop message at 8 am."

A spokesperson for Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary said: "We were called at 6.51am to a collision on the M3.

Four cars were involved and minor injuries have been sustained."

References

^ Hook (www.basingstokegazette.co.uk)
^ Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service (www.basingstokegazette.co.uk)