A driver became trapped after a lorry crashed through a motorway barrier in Hampshire, landing onto the road underneath.
The serious crash happened on the M3 between Eastleigh and Southampton yesterday evening after the tipper lorry veered off the motorway near junction 14.
It crashed through the safety barrier near the southbound entry slip road and landed on its side in the undergrowth on Chestnut Avenue.
The condition of the driver has not been publicly disclosed following the 20ft drop.
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The entry slip road from the M3 onto the M27 westbound remains closed and is expected to be shut for a while, the police warned.
Motorists are urged to use other routes in the meantime.
Hampshire Constabulary said: ‘Emergency services remain at the scene of a serious collision on the M3 southbound carriageway at J14.
‘We were called at 10.01pm on 11 August to reports of a lorry in collision with the bridge barrier, causing the vehicle to leave the carriageway onto Chestnut Avenue.
‘The two left lanes which lead to the slip road for the M27 westbound have been closed, but the two lanes on the right of the southbound carriageway remain open.
‘Chestnut Avenue has also been closed between Nightingale Avenue and Falkland Road.
‘These closures are likely to be in place for a significant amount of time due to the damage caused to the crash barrier on the bridge.
‘We will be completing our investigation at the scene and handing over the local authority who will need to carry out extensive work to ensure the road is safe before reopening.
‘We would advise people to find an alternative route.’
Metro approached the ambulance service for a comment.
Last night’s crash happened just some miles east of the New Forest wildfire.
It has now raged for four days after it was sparked by a van fire on the side of the road, which spread to the dry heathland.
Firefighters have been tackling the blaze in the tinderbox conditions at the famous beauty spot, coupled with hot weather.
The blaze has since engulfed around 140 football pitches worth of land.
Hampshire Fire Service said today: ‘Challenging terrain and limited access to the remote location continue to make firefighting operations difficult, and the high temperatures forecast for today are expected to add to those challenges.’
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