M25 and M26 diversions as fire engulfs Tesco lorry
Drivers are experiencing significant hold-ups on parts of the M25 and M26 after a Tesco truck caught fire due to an accident.
The dashcam video captured flames consuming the truck while a column of smoke ascended into the air.
The event took place on the clockwise lane between the Clacket Lane service area and junction 6 close to Godstone, Surrey, around 10:00 PM British Summer Time on Sunday night.
According to the police, the truck driver sustained only a few minor injuries after the accident; however, the event has led to significant delays for other drivers on the road.
National Highways has indicated that the closure of the M25 heading clockwise between junction five close to Sevenoaks and junction six near Godstone is expected to last all day on Monday.
At the same time, traffic heading west on the M26 between junction 2A close to Wrotham Heath and the M25/A21 has also been redirected.
Six firefighting teams, the South East Coast Ambulance Service (Secamb), and officers from Surrey Police responded to the situation.
National Highways mentioned that a different event causing the east tunnel at Dartford to close has resulted in heavy traffic on the M26 diversion route.
Robert Bell, who manages network operations for National Highways in the South East, stated, “Given the severity of the damage caused by these incidents, the road closures will extend into the evening commute. I recommend that you plan your trip, factor in extra time, and try to steer clear of the area if you can.”
A representative from Surrey Fire and Rescue Service mentioned that as of just after 07:00 BST on Monday, there was still one fire engine present at the location.
She mentioned, "The team is currently working to cool down the areas that are still hot."
"We want to express our gratitude to all the employees and partners who played a role in managing this fire."
Emergency crews worked on the site for a total of 10 hours, according to National Highways.
Surrey Police announced that the M25 is still impacted in both directions between junctions 5 and 6.
The lane going in the opposite direction has opened up again, but lanes 3 and 4 out of a total of 4 are still closed at Junction 6.
National Highways mentioned that expert recovery services would be necessary, and it's probable that the road surface will need to be redone.
A representative from Secamb stated, "Last night at 10:20 PM, we received calls about a fire on the M25, specifically between Clacket Lane and junction 6, which involved a truck."
The team evaluated a patient who had minor injuries and decided to let them go at the location.
