Highways thank ‘patient and understanding’ motorists after fatal M1 crash which closed the road for 20 hours

Drivers caught up in the 20-hour closure of the M1 yesterday have been thanked for their patience and understanding.
Recovery work on the M1. Picture by SWNSRecovery work on the M1. Picture by SWNS
Recovery work on the M1. Picture by SWNS

Two men aged 87 and 27 were killed during a horrific head-on collision on the border of Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire on Monday after a pensioner drove the wrong way down the M1.

Emergency services were called to the M1 between junction 25 (Nottingham/Derby) and 24 (East Midlands Airport/Loughborough) at around 2.20am.

The elderly driver of the blue Mazda Premacy was driving the wrong way along the carriageway before he smashed into a white Ford Transit van.

Recovery work on the M1. Picture by SWNSRecovery work on the M1. Picture by SWNS
Recovery work on the M1. Picture by SWNS

He died at the scene of the crash along with a 27-year-old man who was a passenger in the van.

A spokesman for Highways England said: “After liai­son with Not­ting­hamshire Police, it was con­firmed that the car involved in this inci­dent was head­ing north­bound on the south­bound car­riage­way of the M1, prior to the col­li­sion.”

Emergency services worked together to turn around any traffic trapped at the scene and diversions were put in place.

Repair work continued throughout the day to the M1 including damage to the central reservation and the road surface.

Picture by SWNSPicture by SWNS
Picture by SWNS

The M1 was fully reopened by around 9.30pm with normal traffic conditions by around 10pm.

A spokesman for Highways England added: “High­ways Eng­land would like to thank motorists for their patience and under­stand­ing, dur­ing this lengthy incident.”