News Item - News - Surrey Police

Police appeal for witnesses following collision on M3

Submitted: 12/07/2010 16:30:37

Did you witness a collision on the M3 near Lightwater?

Police are appealing for witnesses after a lorry was in collision with a bridge on the M3 near the junction with Lightwater this morning (July 12).

The southbound carriageway was closed for more than three hours while emergency services dealt with the incident, which happened at 6-30am near junction 4. The driver of the lorry was ejected from his cab on impact with the parapet of the bridge and was taken to Frimley Park Hospital with a suspected head injury. The latest report suggests the injuries are not as serious as first thought and the driver, who is from Essex, is being treated for deep cuts to his skull, ears and arms.

A black Seat Ibiza was also involved in the incident and officers are still trying to ascertain whether the lorry hit the car before colliding with the bridge. The car driver, a 26-year-old man from Stevenage, escaped uninjured but was arrested on suspicion of drink driving and taken to Woking police station where he remains in custody.

All three lanes of the carriageway were closed but two have since been reopened following recovery of the Seat and the 7.5 tonne lorry. The third lane will remain closed for the rest of the day while essential repairs are carried out to the central barrier. A structural engineer was also called to assess the damage to the bridge but deemed it to be in order.

Two other cars also suffered minor damage from the debris caused by the collision.

If you have witnessed this incident and have not already spoken to police, please contact 0845 125 2222, quoting P10212885.