Lorry driver dies in M27 crash
Three people have been arrested
Last updated 22nd Feb 2024
A lorry driver has died and three people have been arrested after a crash on the M27.
The emergency services were called to junction five shortly after 12.30pm on Wednesday.
The collision involved a Mercedes lorry, Nissan Juke and Volkswagen Polo.
Hampshire Police said the lorry driver, a man in his 30s, was pronounced dead at the scene.
A woman, who was in the Nissan, reported minor injuries.
Several hours after the collision, the lorry caught fire, and a gantry has been damaged.
Two men, aged 32 and 37 and a woman, 40, have been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.
Urgent assessments and work to establish whether the gantry needs to be removed have been taking place overnight and will continue this morning after Hampshire Police handed over the scene to National Highways around 4.30am.
Ian Perrett, National Highways Operations Manager in the South East, said: “We are doing everything we can to get the road open, but our priority will always be the safety of the public, and at the present time we need to establish how badly damaged the overhead gantry is before allowing vehicles to pass underneath it.
“As a result of yesterday’s collision, a light goods vehicle collided with the gantry and subsequently caught fire while resting against the main support for the gantry. Now that Hampshire Police have concluded their investigations at the scene and the vehicle has been recovered, we are assessing the gantry and a nearby retaining wall that was also damaged to see what work – including the possible removal of the gantry – is necessary before the section of road can be opened again.
“This is complex work and could lead to the closure remaining in place for a number of hours today.
“My advice to road users is please avoid the area. If that’s not possible, please allow yourself extra time to complete your journey."