A major incident on the M23 has ended in tragedy after a man was killed in a multi-vehicle collision during the early hours of this morning.
The catastrophic crash, which involved several vehicles, forced the complete closure of the motorway in both directions for over ten hours, causing severe disruption for thousands of commuters and long tailbacks throughout the day.
Emergency Services Scramble to the Scene
Surrey Police were called to the scene between junctions 10 and 11, near Crawley, at approximately 2:20 am. Alongside South East Coast Ambulance Service and Surrey Fire & Rescue, they worked through the night in a desperate attempt to deal with the aftermath of the serious collision.
Tragically, despite the best efforts of emergency crews, a man was pronounced dead at the scene. His next of kin have been informed and are now being supported by specially trained officers.
Major Travel Chaos for Commuters
The closure led to immense travel disruption, with National Highways implementing a full closure to allow for a complex collision investigation and recovery operation. Drivers were urged to avoid the area entirely, with long delays building on diversion routes through surrounding towns and villages.
Trapped traffic within the closure was eventually released past the scene via the hard shoulder later in the morning, but the knock-on effects were felt for the duration of the day.
Appeal for Witnesses Launched
Surrey Police have now launched an urgent appeal for information. Officers are keen to speak to any motorists who were travelling on that stretch of the M23 around the time of the incident, particularly those with dashcam footage that could hold vital clues.
Anyone with any information is asked to contact the force immediately, quoting the reference PR/P24092366.
