A highways worker, 65, from Kent has been killed in a collision with a van on the M23 near Gatwick Airport, sparking a major investigation into the cause of the crash. The driver of the van, a 38-year-old man from Croydon, was arrested at the scene and remains under arrest as detectives from Sussex Police continue their probe.
Emergency services were called to the southbound carriageway at Junction 9 after reports of a collision at approximately 1am on Wednesday morning. The victim's next of kin have been informed and Sussex Police have extended their condolences to his family, which is said to be in shock following the tragedy.
Sergeant Chris Ambrose of Sussex Police has appealed for any witnesses or individuals with dashcam footage of the incident to come forward and assist with enquiries, quoting Operation Oakcross. The driver of the van was taken into custody by police officers at the scene.
The M23 southbound between Junction 8 (near Merstham) and Junction 10 (Crawley) remained fully closed from around 1:20am on Wednesday due to the serious nature of the incident and ongoing police investigations. National Highways confirmed that the carriageway was shut for most of the day, with diversions in place causing considerable delays for motorists.
A spokesperson for National Highways advised drivers heading to London Gatwick Airport to allow substantial extra time for their journeys or to consider alternative routes due to the significant congestion caused by the prolonged closure. Traffic officers were deployed to assist emergency services and manage the resulting congestion, which underscored the severity of the incident and its impact on a vital transport link.