Man seriously injured in M74 crash

A 68 year-old man is in a serious condition in hospital following a crash on the M74 this morning.

At around 4.10am, police were called to a report of a crash involving an articulated lorry that had overturned on the northbound carriageway of the M74 at junction 21 near Kirkpatrick Fleming.

The 68 year-old driver of the lorry was taken by ambulance to Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary where hospital staff describe his condition as serious.

The northbound carriageway has been closed since the crash while the police and other agencies including Transport Scotland secure the lorry's heavy load and prevent a damaged refrigerated container splitting open.

Traffic is being diverted along the B7076. Police say they hope to re-open the motorway this afternoon.