Crash causes massive eight-mile tailbacks at Dartford Crossing as M25 closes in both directions

A serious rush-hour crash involving a lorry and a road-sweeper on the M25 is causing eight-mile tailbacks at the Dartford crossing this morning.

Part of the Kent section of the M25 is closed anti-clockwise following the crash between junction five for the M26 and junction four for Orpington – adding hours to rush hour journeys this morning.

The road has been closed anti-clockwise since 5.25am while emergency services work at the scene. 

It will be closed for the ‘foreseeable future’, say Highways England, who have promised to release the trapped traffic.

Vehicles were originally held on the clockwise carriageway from 6.20am, but it has since been reopened with a lane three closure.

Part of the Kent section of the M25 is closed anti-clockwise following the crash between junction five for the M26 and junction four for Orpington

The road has been closed anti-clockwise since 5.25am while emergency services work at the scene. It will be closed for the ‘foreseeable future’, say Highways England, who have promised to release the trapped traffic

There is currently eight miles of queues stretching beyond junction three for the Swanley Interchange and up to junction 1a at Dartford.

A diversion is in place via the A21, A25 and the A224 through Sevenoaks and Badgers Mount.

A spokesperson for Kent Police told MailOnline: ‘Kent Police was called shortly after 5.10am on Friday 25 September 2020 following a report of a collision between a lorry and a road sweeping vehicle between junctions 5 and 4 of the M25.

‘Emergency services are at the scene and the anti-clockwise carriageway is currently closed between junctions 5 and 4.

‘Motorists are advised to expect delays and, where possible, to use alternative routes.’

One person caught in at the front of the traffic, Jennie Schofield, said on Twitter: ‘Progress is being made, still not moving but screens are going up and emergency services are moving aside, hopefully we will be moving soon but not sure, more teams have just turned up and the other side of the road has just opened up.’ 

Vehicles were originally held on the clockwise carriageway from 6.20am, but it has since been reopened with a lane three closure

She had earlier tweeted: ‘Still no signs of movement on the M25, we are at the brunt of it and seems to be no movement at all, been sitting here since 5.15am.

‘Hope everyone involved is okay.’  

A spokesperson for Kent Fire and Rescue Service said: ‘We were called to a crash involving a road sweeping vehicle and a lorry on the anticlockwise carriageway of the M25, between Junction 5 for Sevenoaks and Junction 4 for Orpington.

‘Four fire engines were sent to the scene and crews used hydraulic cutting equipment to rescue a person from one the vehicles, who was passed into the care of paramedics.’  

A spokesperson for South East Coast Ambulance Service told MailOnline: ‘We can confirm we were called at approximately 5.10am today to reports of a crash on the M25 at junction 4.

‘Ambulance crews attended the scene and were joined at the scene by the air ambulance service.

‘One person was treated at the scene before being take to Kings College Hospital by road in a serious condition.’