Overview
- Police and National Highways closed the M25 clockwise between J25 (Waltham Cross) and J26 (Waltham Abbey) after a serious collision near the Holmesdale Tunnel, with traffic initially held both ways for an air ambulance.
- London Ambulance Service said two people were treated at the scene and taken to hospital, including one airlifted by East Anglian Air Ambulance.
- National Highways reported delays of up to 90 minutes and around five miles of queues around the M25 closure, with a signed diversion via the A10, A406 and M11 and vehicles being escorted past the scene in lane four.
- An earlier multi-vehicle crash and vehicle fire on the M25 anti-clockwise between J29 (Romford) and J28 (Brentwood) led to an oil spillage; all lanes later reopened but about eight miles of congestion and long residual delays persisted.
- Separate incidents added to disruption nationwide, including a fatal police-led closure on the M6 southbound near Wigan, an A14 crash at J36 near Newmarket, an A50 lorry collision near Castle Donington, and a police incident that closed the M53 at J4 before reopening with long delays.