Motorcyclist killed in accident with car as M2 closed near Gillingham
A motorcyclist has died following an accident with a car on the M2 this morning. The motorway was shut London-bound between Junction 5 near Sittingbourne (the Maidstone/Sheerness A249 turn-off) and Junction 4 (Gillingham, A278) following the crash, half a mile from the A278 turn-off, at about 6.30am.
The coastbound stretch was also closed for several hours while emergency services dealt with the incident. It reopened at about 11.30am.
Kent Police, South East Coast Ambulance Service and Kent Fire and Rescue Service all responded to the accident. A police spokesperson said: "Officers attended alongside paramedics who treated the motorcyclist for serious injuries. He was declared deceased at the scene.
"Officers have closed the junction while an investigation into the circumstances takes place. The coastbound carriageway was also closed at Junction 4 but reopened at 11.26am." A National Highways spokesperson said: "With emergency service crews working at scene, National Highways Traffic Officers implemented traffic management to close the M2 to provide a safe working area.
"At 7.30am, Kent Police advised of the requirement for the eastbound carriageway to also be closed due to the nature of the incident."
At 1.55pm, National Highways posted on X to say the London-bound stretch remained closed for police investigation work. Another post at 3.06pm said it was still shut "for recovery and clearup". As of just after 4pm, it is understood it reopened.
The accident happened on the same stretch of road where a young woman was killed[1] in an accident on Christmas Eve. A black Volkswagen T-Roc is reported to have collided with the central reservation before overturning. The driver, a woman in her 20s from the Faversham area, was pronounced dead at the scene.
There were no passengers in the car or any other vehicles involved.
References
- ^ young woman was killed (kentonline.co.uk)