Thame gridlocked after overturned lorry blocks M40

TIME: 19.24 hrs – LOCAL people are reporting that all the main routes out of Thame remain gridlocked, as traffic from the M40 tries to find alternatives routes following an overturned lorry  on the M40 just after midday.

The overturned lorry on the M40 being removed

Oxfordshire County Council Fire and Rescue Service were called to a report of an overturned lorry on the M40 near Lewknor on the southbound carriageway between junctions 7 and 6, at 1225 pm today, Thursday June 23, 2016.

Image courtesy of Oxfordshire Fire & Rescue

Thames Valley Fire Control mobilised three fire engines from Wheatley, Thame and Slade fire stations, along with a specialist Heavy Rescue Unit from Kidlington and environmental protection unit from Didcot.

On arrival firefighters immediately assisted paramedics from South Central Ambulance Service to treat the driver of the lorry which had overturned and blocked lanes of the north and southbound carriageways. Firefighters then rapidly used salvage equipment to soak up / stop diesel and oil that had leaked from the lorry, entering watercourses. Initially the whole southbound carriageway was closed and two lanes of the northbound, whilst crews made the incident safe. Thames Valley Police and Highways England assisted with traffic management and providing further spill kits to soak up the diesel. The driver was taken to hospital for treatment by ambulance.

The hard shoulder was reopened and used to allow traffic flow on the south bound carriageway soon after arrival. Lane restrictions will remain until recovery of the lorry, crash barrier repairs and road surface cleaning takes place later today.

SOURCE: Press release