M1 delays: 7-mile motorway queues as car ‘flips with person inside’ in horror crash

Motorists have been warned to expect "severe delays" on the M1 after a car[1] with one person inside flipped earlier this morning. Emergency services were called at 6.57am following a collision between J20 (Lutterworth) and J21 (near Leicester). Police[2], the fire service[3] and ambulances arrived to find the upside-down vehicle in lane three of the northbound carriageway, about two miles north of the Lutterworth junction. The driver had already managed to get out of the car and was seen by ambulance staff.

The fire service confirmed all three lanes had to be closed following the incident[4], causing major delays on the motorway.

Less than two hours after the crash, the motorway reopened but drivers were warned to expect delays of up to one hour, Leicestershire Live[6] reported. National Highways said at 8.40am: "Recovery and collision clear-up work is complete, all lanes are now open on the M1 northbound, between J20 and J21. Please allow time for delays to ease, up to 60 minutes extra journey time.

Approx.

5 miles of congestion." On Wednesday last week, a four-vehicle crash sparked traffic chaos on the M5[7] during rush hour, with drivers facing delays of up to 70 minutes. The collision happened near Cribbs Causeway in South Gloucestershire at 6am. Avon and Somerset Police[8] said the crash resulted in a "small" vehicle fire[9] which was put out by the fire service.

No injuries were reported.

References

1. ^ car (www.mirror.co.uk)
2. ^ Police (www.mirror.co.uk)
3. ^ fire service (www.mirror.co.uk)
4. ^ incident (www.mirror.co.uk)
5. ^ Rush hour traffic chaos after four-vehicle crash closes major UK motorway (www.mirror.co.uk)
6. ^ Leicestershire Live (www.leicestermercury.co.uk)
7. ^ sparked traffic chaos on the M5 (www.mirror.co.uk)
8. ^ Avon and Somerset Police (www.mirror.co.uk)
9. ^ fire (www.mirror.co.uk)