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Horror caravan motorway crash caught on camera as drivers are warned before bank holiday getaway

A 29-second clip released today shows the van and caravan careering out of control as it drove north along the M1 between Leicester and Loughborough

They’re a much-maligned method of transport on Britain’s roads - and this latest crash video doesn’t do caravan drivers any favours.

Roadside CCTV shows the moment a motorway pile-up was narrowly avoided when a van towing a caravan flipped over and crashed on the M1.

The Highways Agency released the footage to warn drivers looking to get away over Easter that they need to keep control of their vehicles.

The 29-second clip shows the van and caravan careering out of control as it drove north along the M1 between Leicester and Loughborough.

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It shows the van struggling to control the caravan which ‘snakes’ violently from side to side as they travel on the slow-lane of the carriageway.

While the driver desperately tries to control the vehicle it suddenly veers across into the middle lane before jack-knifing back across the slow-lane and smashing into a tree.




The caravan is seen flipping over on the motorway narrowly missing dozens of cars during the horror smash in last August.

Incredibly, no one was seriously injured in the crash which was caused by a combination of a cross wind and the vehicle travelling too fast on a downhill section of the motorway.

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Highways Agency service delivery manager Andy Withington said: 'Spring and summer are the peak seasons for towing-related incidents on our roads.

'Over Easter many people will be hitching up their caravans and trailers for the first time since autumn, so we’re asking them to take time to ensure they’re fit to tow before going on the road.'

The main causes of towing incidents include overloading the caravan or trailer, the use of an unsafe towing vehicle, tyres bursting because they have not been checked and poor driving.


On major roads in the East Midlands last year there were 484 crashes involving caravans, trailers and other towed vehicles.

Mr Withington added: 'Incidents involving towed vehicles can cause long delays for other road users as well as distress for anyone directly involved.

'Although high-speed incidents involving towing can be serious, the majority of problems we see on our roads are breakdowns – which can be avoided with routine checks and maintenance.'