Driver killed in three-vehicle collision near Ashford

A man has been killed in a three-vehicle crash on the M20 on Tuesday morning, police say.

Emergency services were called just before 08:30 GMT to the crash on the London-bound carriageway, between junction nine (Ashford) and junction eight (Maidstone), Kent Police said.

Police, the fire service, paramedics and National Highways officers attended the scene, but the driver of a car involved, a man in his 30s, was confirmed dead at the scene, a police spokesperson said.

The London-bound carriageway is likely to remain closed “into and past this evening’s peak traffic period”, National Highways said.

“Kent Police collision investigations teams [are] now working at the scene of the incident,” they added.

The driver of a white Mercedes lorry was seriously injured and taken by air ambulance to a London hospital, police said.

The coastbound carriageway had been closed to allow the air ambulance to land, but has since re-opened.

Drivers are being encouraged to use other routes, including the M2 for anyone travelling from the Port of Dover.

Police said anyone who saw what happened or has footage of the incident should contact them.