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| Kent M20 shut after crash and footbridge collapse | Kent M20 shut after crash and footbridge collapse |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A pedestrian bridge has collapsed on a motorway on one of the busiest travel days of the year. | A pedestrian bridge has collapsed on a motorway on one of the busiest travel days of the year. |
| The M20 in Kent is closed between junctions 3 and 4 because of a "vehicle striking a bridge" on the eastbound carriageway, Highways England said. | The M20 in Kent is closed between junctions 3 and 4 because of a "vehicle striking a bridge" on the eastbound carriageway, Highways England said. |
| Kent Police said the crash was being dealt with as a major incident and one person had been injured. | Kent Police said the crash was being dealt with as a major incident and one person had been injured. |
| Travel disruption is said to be severe, with the motorway expected to remain closed until at least Sunday. | |
| Officers said no-one was believed to be trapped in the debris and the person who had been hurt had injuries that were not life-threatening. | Officers said no-one was believed to be trapped in the debris and the person who had been hurt had injuries that were not life-threatening. |
| The crash happened near the junction with the M26 which links the M25 London orbital with the M20. | The crash happened near the junction with the M26 which links the M25 London orbital with the M20. |
| The motorway is the main route to the Channel Tunnel and the Port of Dover for people travelling to France and across Europe. | The motorway is the main route to the Channel Tunnel and the Port of Dover for people travelling to France and across Europe. |
| Sonny Gladdish was on the M20 when the crash happened. | |
| He said a lorry carrying a digger was driving on the hard shoulder and made impact with the bridge. | |
| Mr Gladdish said he heard the bang and was about four or five cars behind the collision when it happened. | |
| He said the bridge collapsed on one lorry and he believed the motorcyclist had thrown himself off his bike to avoid the impact. | |
| Another witness, Sean Fisher, said: "I spoke to [the woman in] the first car behind the lorry. She seemed to be all right. Her daughter was quite brave and went under the bridge and was the first responder to the fallen motorcyclist." | |
| Some drivers also tried to stop traffic on the other side of the road, Mr Fisher said, as they feared the bridge might collapse on the coast-bound carriageway as well. | |
| "At the moment it seems they are going to get the motorcycles out first, the wrong way on the road, and I'm not sure what they are going to do with the cars," he added. | |
| Emergency crews were called to the scene on the London-bound carriageway at about 12:10 BST. | Emergency crews were called to the scene on the London-bound carriageway at about 12:10 BST. |
| South East Coast Ambulance Service tweeted that a motorcyclist in his 50s had been taken by ambulance to Tunbridge Wells Hospital with suspected broken ribs after the bridge collapsed. | South East Coast Ambulance Service tweeted that a motorcyclist in his 50s had been taken by ambulance to Tunbridge Wells Hospital with suspected broken ribs after the bridge collapsed. |
| A spokeswoman for Kent Police said: "It is believed a lorry collided with a pedestrian bridge which has collapsed onto the carriageway below." | A spokeswoman for Kent Police said: "It is believed a lorry collided with a pedestrian bridge which has collapsed onto the carriageway below." |
| She added: "No people are believed to be trapped in the debris, however one person is believed to have suffered injuries, not reported to be life-threatening at this time." | She added: "No people are believed to be trapped in the debris, however one person is believed to have suffered injuries, not reported to be life-threatening at this time." |
| People took to social media to share pictures of the collapsed structure. | People took to social media to share pictures of the collapsed structure. |
| Helen Ayres posted: "Now that's what I call timing. Just as well the M20 is usually free-flowing on a Bank Holid... Oh. 😣" | Helen Ayres posted: "Now that's what I call timing. Just as well the M20 is usually free-flowing on a Bank Holid... Oh. 😣" |
| Jimmy tweeted: "Couple of guys playing football on the m20; not something you see everyday #m20 #motorway #traffic ..." | |
| Some drivers objected to the handling of the aftermath of the crash, with Wiliam Gaunt tweeting: "@kent_police why so long to close M20? 1000s joined 45 mins after bridge strike now trapped." | |
| An estimated 13 million drivers are expected to take to the road between Friday and Monday over the long weekend, according to the AA. | |
| The busiest day was expected to be Saturday, with 10 million motorists expected to travel. | The busiest day was expected to be Saturday, with 10 million motorists expected to travel. |
| Are you near the area of the collapsed bridge on the M20? Email your story to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | |
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