Update 1300 hrs

THE southbound carriageway of the M11 near North Weald was reopened at 11am on Saturday, October 12 following the road crash earlier in the morning.

The collision happened when a lorry and a van struck each other shortly before 5am just prior to Junction 6 (M25), causing the lorry to flip onto its side. This led to a massive oil and fuel leak onto the road and surrounding areas.

Both drivers sustained minor injuries, with the van driver treated at the scene by paramedics before then being taken to his nearby home in Harlow. The lorry driver, a man from Kent, was taken by paramedics to Harlow’s Princess Alexandra Hospital and later discharged.

The carriageway was closed at Junction 7 (Harlow) to allow for the recovery of the lorry and for the spillages to be cleared away. This closure was in place for six hours.

Any witnesses to the crash are urged to contact investigating officers at Essex Police’s Chigwell Road Policing Unit on 101.

Update: 0800 hrs

B1393 Essex – Long delays on B1393 southbound between Hastingwood Interchange, Harlow and Bell Common, Epping.

Update: 0745 hrs

M11 Essex – M11 closed and queueing traffic London-bound between J7, A414 (Harlow) and J6 M25, because of a serious accident involving an overturned lorry and overturned van. Diversion in operation – the official diversions are either via the eastbound A414 to Chelmsford, then the southbound A12, or via the westbound A414 through Harlow, then the southbound A10.

Update: 0700 hours

M11 ESSEX – M11 closed and queueing traffic southbound between J7, A414 (Harlow) and J6 M25, because of an overturned lorry and an accident involving lorry and van. Diversion in operation – via A414, A12 to join M25 at J28.

Expected to be closed until lunchtime.