Motorway Closure Leads to Health Concerns
A significant traffic incident on the M25, involving a collision between a van and a lorry, resulted in extensive delays and prompted multiple emergency calls for heat-related conditions. The incident occurred on a day experiencing some of the highest June temperatures in decades, exacerbating the challenges for stranded commuters.
Emergency Services Respond to Heat Illnesses
The South East Coast Ambulance Service (Secamb) confirmed its response to several patients between junctions six and seven of the M25, near Godstone. A section of the motorway was closed following the serious crash, and one individual was airlifted to the hospital. Ambulance crews reported difficulties in reaching patients due to the severe and prolonged congestion, prioritizing the most critical cases.
A spokesperson for Secamb noted that the gridlock, which saw some vehicles stationary for hours during a red heat alert, led to numerous calls from individuals suffering from heat-related illnesses, including passengers on several coaches.
Public Appeals for Assistance
Frustrated motorists and their relatives turned to social media to appeal for help. One woman highlighted the plight of her elderly parents, who were stranded for over 4.5 hours without information or supplies. She emphasized the presence of vulnerable individuals, including the elderly, babies, and those with health conditions, in the extreme heat and questioned the lack of coordinated assistance like water distribution.
Another user shared concerns about their grandparents, both in their 70s, who had been stuck for seven hours without updates. They observed multiple ambulances passing, suggesting an increase in heat-related emergencies. Other accounts described ambulances struggling to navigate through the traffic due to the absence of a hard shoulder, with some individuals reportedly lying unwell on the ground.
Collision Details and Road Damage
Surrey Police confirmed the crash involved a white Mercedes Vito van, driven by a man in his 30s who sustained a leg injury, and a white lorry. The male driver was transported to the hospital for further treatment. The force appealed for witnesses and advised motorists to anticipate significant delays due to a closure at junction five.
Police indicated that one of the vehicles was being recovered, and a substantial oil spillage from the collision had caused damage to the road surface. National Highways engineers were conducting assessments to ensure the carriageway could be safely reopened. While both lanes of the exit slip road at junction six have since reopened, the main carriageway remained closed for ongoing assessments.