M2 traffic delays between Junction 5 Key Street and Junction 6 Faversham after motorcycle and car crash
A stretch of the M2 in Kent has been closed after a crash involving a car and a motorcyclist on the coastbound carriageway, with an air ambulance helicopter landing at the scene as emergency crews respond. National Highways said the incident happened between Junction 5 for Key Street and Junction 6 for Faversham, and traffic service Inrix reported both lanes were shut while the helicopter landed and attended the crash. Drivers have been warned to expect around three miles of congestion on approach to the closure.
The latest incident is the second crash on the same stretch of the M2 coastbound on May 25. Earlier in the day, there was another collision on the M2 coastbound near Junction 5, by the A249 turn-off for Sittingbourne and Stockbury Roundabout. Details of that earlier crash were not immediately confirmed, but it added to delays in the area.
Elsewhere in Kent and around the Dartford crossing, traffic disruption also affected the M25 after an accident near Junction 2 of the A2 Darenth Interchange. That incident has since begun to ease, with queues reducing later in the day.
National Highways also reported delays of around 30 minutes on the M20 between Junction 5 for Maidstone and Junction 9 for Ashford just after noon, following multiple broken down vehicles. Recovery crews were sent to each of the incidents, and by about 1.30pm the delays had cleared and all vehicles had been recovered.
In another incident, Inrix said one lane was blocked on the A2 near Dartford after a crash involving two cars. Traffic had been building in the area, but the collision was later cleared between A2018 Old Bexley Lane, Dartford Heath and M25 Junction 2 for the Darenth Interchange.
The latest round of disruption follows an earlier serious crash on the A2 coastbound near Southfleet, where fire crews had to cut one person free from a car. Kent Fire and Rescue Service said it was called to reports of a three-car collision shortly after 2.30am. Two fire engines attended the scene, and crews used cutting equipment to release one person from the vehicle before they were handed over to paramedics.
That incident led to the closure of the road between A2260 Northfleet and B262 Pepperhill. National Highways initially shut the route following the crash, and then confirmed a secondary collision had occurred while the closure remained in place. Recovery teams were sent, and the road reopened shortly after 7am.
Emergency services have been contacted for further information about the M2 crash and the air ambulance response.
