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| M40 in Warwickshire shut after fatal lorry crash and fire | M40 in Warwickshire shut after fatal lorry crash and fire |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A man died in a three-lorry crash on the M40, an hour after another lorry caught fire on the opposite carriageway. | A man died in a three-lorry crash on the M40, an hour after another lorry caught fire on the opposite carriageway. |
| The crash at 04:00 BST on the northbound stretch between junctions 15 and 16 in Warwickshire also saw a second driver taken to hospital. | The crash at 04:00 BST on the northbound stretch between junctions 15 and 16 in Warwickshire also saw a second driver taken to hospital. |
| The road was closed in both directions for 13 hours. | The road was closed in both directions for 13 hours. |
| One southbound lane reopened at about 17:00, but Highways England warned drivers of delays. | |
| A second southbound lane reopened just under an hour later. | |
| The lorry fire at 03:00 had caused the carriageway to be closed, and the "significant" damage to the vehicle had made recovery difficult, it said. | The lorry fire at 03:00 had caused the carriageway to be closed, and the "significant" damage to the vehicle had made recovery difficult, it said. |
| Two northbound lanes reopened at 19:30, with one lane remaining closed for the final part of resurfacing work before also being opened up to traffic, Highways England said. | |
| A broken down lorry had also caused problems between junctions 13 and 14 northbound, which also had to be closed so it could be recovered. The stretch reopened at 17:00. | A broken down lorry had also caused problems between junctions 13 and 14 northbound, which also had to be closed so it could be recovered. The stretch reopened at 17:00. |
| West Midlands Ambulance Service said a third driver was uninjured in the crash. | West Midlands Ambulance Service said a third driver was uninjured in the crash. |
| A spokesman said: "On arrival, ambulance staff saw two lorries that were on fire. A third lorry was just in front of them. | A spokesman said: "On arrival, ambulance staff saw two lorries that were on fire. A third lorry was just in front of them. |
| "Unfortunately, the driver of one lorry died at the scene. | "Unfortunately, the driver of one lorry died at the scene. |
| "The driver of a second lorry, a man in his 60s, was treated at the scene for a medical condition and was taken to Warwick hospital." | "The driver of a second lorry, a man in his 60s, was treated at the scene for a medical condition and was taken to Warwick hospital." |
| Warwickshire Police added formal identification of the dead man, thought to be aged in his 40s, was yet to take place but his next of kin had been informed. | Warwickshire Police added formal identification of the dead man, thought to be aged in his 40s, was yet to take place but his next of kin had been informed. |
| It said a file would be prepared for the coroner in due course. | It said a file would be prepared for the coroner in due course. |
| Highways England said no-one had been injured in the earlier fire and recovery staff began to move the lorry from the southbound lanes at about 10:00. | Highways England said no-one had been injured in the earlier fire and recovery staff began to move the lorry from the southbound lanes at about 10:00. |
| A total of 60m of damaged road had to be resurfaced on the northbound side before the road could start to be reopened, expected to be around 20:00, it added. | A total of 60m of damaged road had to be resurfaced on the northbound side before the road could start to be reopened, expected to be around 20:00, it added. |
| Keith Hinton, who lives near the site of the fire, said he was woken at about 03:00 by a "really loud bang". | Keith Hinton, who lives near the site of the fire, said he was woken at about 03:00 by a "really loud bang". |
| "I looked out of the bedroom window and I could see flames and smoke and I realised there'd been a large accident on the motorway," he said. | "I looked out of the bedroom window and I could see flames and smoke and I realised there'd been a large accident on the motorway," he said. |
| During the closure, motorists were advised to avoid the area completely, with drivers also unable to join the M40 from the M42 at junction 3A | During the closure, motorists were advised to avoid the area completely, with drivers also unable to join the M40 from the M42 at junction 3A |
| Highways England emergency planning officer Frank Bird said traffic had "overwhelmed" Henley-in-Arden, with many other routes around the area affected by congestion during the closure. | Highways England emergency planning officer Frank Bird said traffic had "overwhelmed" Henley-in-Arden, with many other routes around the area affected by congestion during the closure. |