Road closures and delays after two multi-vehicle crashes
The pile-ups on the M23 and A3 happened at around 10.30am on Thursday.
Stretches of two major roads are closed after separate road crashes involving more than a dozen vehicles.
Parts of the A3 and the M23 in Surrey ground to a halt on Thursday morning following five and eight-vehicle collisions respectively, with diesel spillages reported on both routes.
One person was taken to hospital with potentially serious injuries, while another sustained minor injuries, both on the M23, Surrey Police said.
The 49-year-old, who was returning to Bristol after picking up his son at Gatwick Airport, said: “People are out of their cars, walking dogs, chatting, very patient and very British.
“We’re preparing for a very long wait – looks like a long round trip now!”
The M23 collision happened between junction nine for Gatwick and junction eight for the M25, while the A3 smash happened between Ripley and Ockham.
Officers were called to the A3 at 10.25am and were alerted to the M23 crash 20 minutes later.
Both routes are likely to remain shut for a prolonged period owing to spilled diesel, which can degrade tarmac, police added.
Diversions are in place for both routes and travellers are urged to check Surrey Police social media channels for live updates.
