Crash on M74

Hundreds of motorists sweated in the huge traffic jam and many sat out on the barriers and bankings as temperatures soared to 80 degrees

Police, ambulance staff, doctors and firefighters worked at the scene for more than two hours.

Three people were badly hurt after a Range Rover crashed into the concrete upright of a motorway bridge. The three, a man and two women, had to be freed from the wreckage of the vehicle four miles south of Beattock on the northbound carriageway of the A74M.

Firefighters worked at the scene for more than 90 minutes to free the trapped who were said to be badly hurt. Police are still treating the accident as a potential fatal after two air ambulances were sent to the motorway at Junction 15 north of Johnstonebridge.

Police closed both carriageways for two hours and thousands of vehicles were queued back up to six miles. Police set up diversions and later opened one lane on each side of the motorway to let traffic off before closing the northbound lane again for a major accident investigation.

Two casualties have been airlifted to the Southern General Hospital, with a further casualty taken by ambulance to the Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary.

The Northbound carraigeway is closed and will remain so for a considerable period while investigations are carried out. The Southbound carriageway has one lane now re-opened.

A vehicle has collided with a bridge support. There will be traffic congestion at the location for some time and both carriageways will be fully closed for a time to allow the Air Ambulances access to the scene