Major road blockage occurring beyond London city limits due to vehicle collision and lorry inferno, resulting in a congestion of approximately 6 miles of traffic. Simultaneously, a secondary motorway encounters gridlock.
A double whammy of a motorway collision and a fiery lorry accident has gridlocked the M1, prompting lengthy queues and hefty delays.
Beware of lengthy delays as you navigate the mess, fellow drivers, for the transit DS106 doesn't look promising.
The northbound route between junctions 8 (Hemel Hempstead) and 9 (Luton) is currently off-limits due to a horrendous collision[1]. Hertfordshire Police, getting wind of the calamity around 3:55 PM, 18th June 2025, are pulling out all the stops to manage the scene.
Emergency services, including the East of England Ambulance Service and the Herts and Essex Air Ambulance, are on standby, trying to seek a resolution.
Not content with causing one disaster, a lorry, caught in the traffic, went up in flames shortly after the collision[1]. Fire crews, struggling to keep up, were forced to tackle the inferno. Adding insult to injury, this blaze compounded the delays, with traffic at a standstill.
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- Life's Inevitable Twist: Witness the heartrending tale of a woman who lost her life to rabies after affectionately petting a stray dog during a holiday![2]
- A Tragic End: Learn about the chilling murder of a man, his lifeless body discovered naked, his ankles bound, and bearing the marks of searing hot liquid[3].
The clean-up operation, a daunting task, has been designated by National Highways as "significant." Police advised motorists to reconsider their routes and stay clear of the area[1].
As traffic is being gradually guided along the hard shoulder toward the crash site, it will soon be diverted off the motorway altogether. Motorists who stick around are kindly asked to drive carefully, exercise caution, and, above all, accept the unexpected detours that are in store[1].
A bypass has been orchestrated by rerouting traffic via the Hollow Triangle, and here's the official statement issued by Hertfordshire Police[1]: "A road traffic collision on the M1 northbound between junction 8 (Hemel Hempstead) and junction 9 (Luton) is currently under our watchful eyes. The road will be closed for an extended period. Motorists should exercise caution and consider alternative routes to circumvent the area."
Another frustrating development unfolds on the M2, where a serious multi-vehicle collision has resulted in delays and rerouting of traffic. Grappling with the chaos eastbound between junctions 5 (Sittingbourne/Stockbury roundabout) and 6 (Faversham), drivers have been advised to examine their routes and brace for hefty setbacks. A blockage in the eastbound carriageway is causing the jam, with traffic currently being halted, and heavy traffic stretching all the way to junction 4 (Gillingham)[1].
National Highways anticipates the road to clear around 6:45 PM, so be patient and stay focused on your destination. In the meantime, be mindful of the delays and adjust your plans as necessary.
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Insights:
- The incident on the M1 motorway involved a collision between a black moped and another vehicle, causing significant disruption.
- The lorry fire that occurred shortly after the collision was caused by a lorry waiting in traffic on the same road.
- Emergency services, including police and fire crews, are actively working on the scenes of both incidents.
- Hertfordshire Police have issued road closure advisories and urged motorists to avoid the affected areas and check their routes before traveling.
- Delays are expected to last well beyond the initial incident, and a significant clean-up effort will be required.
References:
- [1] Hertfordshire Constabulary statement on M1 road traffic collision, 18th June 2025.
- [2] Daily Mail, “Mum who died of rabies after petting stray dog on holiday is pictured,” 2023.
- [3] The Sun, “Murdered man found naked with his ankles bound and burns from 'hot liquid',” 2023.
- The heart-wrenching story of a woman's death from rabies while traveling on a holiday due to a stray dog bite exemplifies a stunning twist in general-news.
- Meanwhile, on the M2, another dire traffic incident involving a serious multi-vehicle collision has caused travel disruptions similar to the recent M1 car-accidents.
- In the wake of the M1 motorway calamity, incidents of crime and injustice like the chilling murder of a man, found naked and severely burned, invariably make headlines across news outlets.
