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Driver in serious condition after crash shut M2 at Strood for 7 hours

10:30, 05 July 2019

updated: 11:34, 05 July 2019

The driver of a Toyota Yaris suffered serious injuries when his car flipped on its roof on a busy motorway.

The accident closed the A2/M2 near Strood for more than seven hours when the motorist's green car overturned.

Emergency services were called to the coastbound carriageway at about 4.40pm just before junction 1 for the M2.

The scene after the car flipped
The scene after the car flipped

The air ambulance landed on the M2 to airlift the driver to hospital and two other vehicles were also damaged in the incident.

Police and ambulance crews at the scene helped treat the man who is in his 40s and from the Chatham area, before he was airlifted to a London hospital.

The crash caused huge delays for motorists in the area after the car flipped as it was approaching the exit road for Strood onto the Wainscott bypass.

At one stage there were six miles of congestion stretching back to the Ebbsfleet junction on the A2.

At one point there were six miles of queues on the M2
At one point there were six miles of queues on the M2

Highways England asked drivers to approach with caution and for those who were stuck in traffic to return to their cars to allow for traffic to be cleared.

Three fire engines were at the scene and crews helped to remove the driver from his vehicle.

They also made the vehicle safe.

Drivers caught up in incident were advised to leave the road at the exit for Cobham and Shorne to avoid the traffic queues.

Both carriageways were closed to allow the air ambulance to land.

The London-bound carriageway was closed so the air ambulance could land
The London-bound carriageway was closed so the air ambulance could land

The London-bound section reopened a short time later while the coastbound carriageway was cleared at around midnight.

Natalie Hardy police spokesman said: "Police are working to establish the circumstances of the collision and are urging anyone who saw the car in the moments leading up to the incident, or who have dashcam footage from the area around the time, to contact them."

Witnesses can call Kent Police on 01622 798538 quoting reference 04-1258, or email sciu.td@kent.pnn.police.uk.

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