Driver whose truck burst into flames in M25 horror crash miraculously escapes with minor injuries

A huge inferno engulfed the lorry at about 10.30pm last night and has meant the road has had to be closed for emergency resurfacing until at least midday today
-Credit: (Image: National Highways)


Surrey Police and ambulance services confirmed that the driver of the lorry which burst into a fireball in a terrifying crash on the M25 yesterday evening (Sunday, October 20) has miraculously escaped with minor injuries.

Dash cam footage shared online showed the lorry collide with the safety barrier on the M25 between Clacket Lane and Junction 6 and explode, narrowly missing several cars as it careers across the carriageway, blocking the entire motorway in a firey mess just after 10pm.

LIVE: Lorry fire closes motorway for emergency repairs and Dartford Tunnel closed

The entire clockwise side has been closed since the accident as specialist recovery work is carried out and emergency resurfacing. Surrey Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS)were on the scene for nearly 11 hours dealing with the blaze from 10pm yesterday until 8.40am today.

Kent Fire and Rescue Service had to send a fire engine to help and were there for nearly three hours themselves until 12.47am when they said the fire was extinguished.

The South East Coast Ambulance Service attended the driver at the scene. A spokesperson said: "SECAmb were called at 22:20 last night (17/10/24) to reports of a fire on the M25 between Clacket Lane and Junction 6 involving a lorry. Crews assessed one patient with minor injuries, who was discharged at the scene."

A huge inferno engulfed the lorry at about 10.30pm last night and has meant the road has had to be closed for emergency resurfacing until at least midday today
A huge inferno engulfed the lorry at about 10.30pm last night and has meant the road has had to be closed for emergency resurfacing until at least midday today -Credit:Traffic cameras

The closure gigantic closure stretches nearly 20 miles and two motorways. It starts on the M25 from Junction 5 for the M26 to Junction 6 for A22 to Godstone. The M26 itself also has a huge closure in place up to Junction 2A to stop traffic from entering the M25 at the scene.

Firefighters were at the scene for 11 hours

Specialist recovery is required for the major accident, Surrey Police said
Specialist recovery is required for the major accident, Surrey Police said -Credit:Traffic cameras

The anticlockwise side has two of four lanes closed too with miles of queues on both sides as well as congestion on the A25 through to Sevenoaks with drivers being diverted.

The SFRS released a statement about the inferno. A spokesperson said: “We have been dealing with a vehicle fire overnight on the M25 between Clacket Lane and Junction 6. At its peak, we had five fire engines and two water carriers in attendance.

"We left the scene at approximately 08:40am this morning. The anti-clockwise carriageway has re-opened, and lane 3 and 4 (of 4) remain closed within J6. Please keep checking the National Highways website for updates.”

Surrey Police say road needs to be resurfaced

An entire quarter of the M25 is congested
The dotted area is where the road closure is - nearly 20 miles long -Credit:Google

Surrey Police corroberated the ambulance statmeent saying "fortunately the driver sustained minor injuries only." Their initial estimate for when the road would reopen would be at least by midday but this has already overran substantially as traffic analyst service Inrix reports the resurfacing effort is still currently ongoing.

They advised drivers to "avoid the area and seek alternative routes".

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