M20 crash horror pictured as tractor lands upside down after falling off bridge

A horror crash has sparked traffic chaos on the M20 in Kent as a tractor smashed through bridge barriers andplummeted onto the motorway.The disastrous image follows a two-vehicle collision, from which one person has been airlifted to hospital with serious injuries, Kent Police has confirmed. A spokesperson said: "Kent Police was called at 11.17am on Monday 18 to a report of a two vehicle collision on the A227 overbridge near Wrotham.

"A tractor subsequently fell onto the central reservation between junction two and three of the M20. Kent Police is currently attending the scene alongside Kent Fire and Rescue Service and South East Coast Ambulance Service, where one man has been airlifted to hospital with serious injuries. Both the M20 and the A227 at the scenes remain closed while emergency services attend the incident. Motorists are advised to use alternative routes where possible."

Other photos from the scene show traffic backing up along the M20 in both directions after the fire service warned the stretch might not reopen for another "four to six" hours.

"The M20 in Kent is closed in both directions between junction 3 for Addington and junction 1 for Swanley following a collision, resulting in a vehicle falling from an overbridge," an initial statement from National Highways said.

"Emergency services including Kent Police are in attendence. National Highways Traffic Officers are also on scene assisting with traffic management."

Kent Highways said the A20 between the A227 junctions had also been temporarily shut following the incident.

Kent Fire and Rescue also previously confirmed that one person had been "extracted" from a vehicle after the crash.

Drivers have been urged to delay or re-route their journeys or expected major disruption.

Diversion routes are in place, with westbound traffic directed to exit the M20 at junction 3 onto the M26 westbound, before joining the M25 anti-clockwise at junction 6 and continuing to junction 5/M20 junction 1.

Eastbound traffic was advised to join the clockwise carriageway at the M25 junction 5 roundabout, before exiting the M25 at junction 6 and joining the M26 headed eastbound.