M23 Crash: Six in hospital and more than 30 injured in multi-vehicle collision
ITV News Meridian's Harry Acton has the latest.
Emergency services have dealt with multi-vehicle collision on the M23 in Sussex.
The road was closed in both directions between junctions 10 and 11 for Pease Pottage after more than 15 vehicles collided on the carriageway shortly before 6pm on Friday 1 March.
ITV Meridian understands a triage centre was set up to deal with the number of people injured in the crash.
The M23 has now reopened.
An eyewitness on the ground told ITV that they counted 24 vehicles that were damaged following the crash. They were told 40 people were currently receiving medical treatment from paramedics. Nobody is thought to have been killed, they said.
South East Coast Ambulance, Sussex Police and West Sussex Fire and Rescue were all in attendance.
The ambulance service confirmed it had taken six people to hospital and treated approximately 30 more at the scene.
Video shared with ITV Meridian shows a large emergency response on the M23.
On Friday, a spokesperson for Sussex Police told ITV Meridian there are multiple casualties being treated by the ambulance service.
They said: “We have closed the M23 in both directions between Junctions 10 and 11 following a serious collision this evening.
“Emergency services were called at around 5.40pm to a collision involving around 15 vehicles. The ambulance service is assessing and treating multiple casualties.
“We are asking the public to avoid the area at this time and to expect significant disruption. Thank you for your patience while this is ongoing.”
Roger Williams, who drove down the M23 when the incident happened, said it was the worst pileup he had seen in 62 years.
“Has to be 30+ vehicles smashed”, he said. “There’s vans on their sides, a minibus upside down. There has to be 30+ vehicles. I counted 5 facing wrong way after spinning but the whole carriageway covered in debris.
“There was a hail storm. The carriageway was covered in 2 inches of ice and people were speeding through it.”
A spokesperson for West Sussex Fire and Rescue said: "We are currently in attendance at an RTC involving multiple vehicles between Junctions 10 and 11 of the M23 at Pease Pottage. Please avoid the area."
A spokesperson for South East Coast Ambulance service said: "We remain at the scene of a multi-vehicle RTC on the M23 between junction 10 and 11. We are assessing and treating multiple casualties and urge people to avoid the area."