Serious Crash Closes M23 Northbound Near Gatwick

A serious single-vehicle collision on the M23 motorway near Gatwick Airport in West Sussex forced the closure of the northbound carriageway between junctions 10 at Crawley and 9 early Thursday morning, April 2, disrupting commuters and holiday travelers during the start of the Easter Bank Holiday weekend.

The incident occurred just after 5 a.m., when a car carrying two men and a woman veered off the road, striking the central reservation and a tree. Sussex Police responded immediately, along with National Highways traffic officers and other emergency services. Officials described the crash as serious, leading to an extended closure expected to last several hours for investigation and vehicle recovery. No details on the occupants' conditions were immediately released.

Traffic backed up quickly, with reports of five miles of congestion and delays exceeding 90 minutes approaching junction 10. By midmorning, some areas saw queues stretching further, with average speeds dropping to as low as five miles per hour in the worst sections. National Highways implemented a diversion route marked by solid square symbols on signs: drivers exiting at junction 10 should take the third exit onto...