Two seriously injured in 30-vehicle fog pile-up on Kent's M20 motorway

What happened

Police say more than 30 vehicles collided on the M20 in Kent at about 6.41pm on Saturday, 7 November. The crash happened on the London-bound carriageway between junctions 8 and 9, near Hollingbourne and Maidstone, and the road was shut in both directions. Kent Police said two people were seriously injured, one taken to a London hospital and the other to a local hospital. Kent Fire and Rescue Service said three fire engines, a technical rescue unit and an air ambulance crew were sent to the scene.

Casualties

Kent Fire and Rescue Service said eleven people were cared for by paramedics, and two of them were taken to hospital. Kent Police said the other injured motorists had hurt themselves in a way it did not consider serious, and it put this in a statement:

“Other drivers have sustained injuries not believed to be serious.”

Treated by paramedics11

Seriously injured2

Treated by paramedics

11 people

Seriously injured

2 people

Data from the article text

Fog and visibility

National Highways said thick fog had been confirmed at the scene. The Met Office had issued a yellow fog warning for Sunday, 8 November, covering an area from Manchester and Hull down to Exeter and Brighton, including London, and set to last until 10am. The forecaster said dense patches had brought visibility below 50 metres in places. Drivers posting on a Kent Traffic and Travel Facebook page described the fog as very thick, and one said traffic had slowed to around 30mph. The Daily Mail reported that smoke from a fireworks display planned at Leeds Castle that evening may also have reduced visibility, but the authorities had not confirmed that the smoke caused the crash, and the exact cause had not been established.

Closure and reopening

Both carriageways were closed between junctions 8 and 9, and drivers were urged to avoid the area and use diversions. Several reports had expected the closure to run overnight. At about 5am on Sunday, 8 November, National Highways said both carriageways had reopened. Kent Police have asked anyone with information or dashcam footage to contact them through live chat or by calling 101, quoting reference 07-1245.