A devastating crash on the M23 near Gatwick Airport has led to a major motorway closure, causing chaos for commuters and travellers at the start of the day. The fatal incident involved a van and occurred at 01:20 BST on Wednesday at Junction 9 for Crawley.
National Highways confirmed that the M23 is closed southbound between Junction 8 and Junction 10 due to ongoing investigations by Sussex Police, who are working to establish the circumstances surrounding the crash. The authorities expect the closure to remain in place until late afternoon.
As a result of the closure, severe delays are being reported across the wider road network. Inrix, the travel information service, has highlighted congestion on the M25, particularly affecting both directions, with tailbacks extending as far as Junction 5 for the M26 in Kent.
A diversion route has been established to help affected motorists avoid the closed stretch of motorway. Drivers should exit the M25 at Junction 6 and follow the A22 southbound towards Eastbourne. This route spans approximately nine miles through South Godstone and Blindley Heath before reconnecting with the A264 at Felbridge. From there, drivers can turn right onto the A264 towards Crawley and Gatwick Airport, following it for about five miles through Copthorne to rejoin the M23 at Junction 10.
Gatwick Airport has warned passengers on social media to expect significantly longer journey times due to the serious nature of the collision and resulting road closures. Sussex Police are working closely with National Highways and airport officials to mitigate the disruption caused by the incident.