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Motorway open after major crash Motorway open after major crash
(20 minutes later)
A 35-year-old man has died and seven people were taken to hospital after a serious of crashes which closed the M8 in West Lothian for seven hours. A 35-year-old man has died and seven people were taken to hospital after a series of crashes which closed the M8 in West Lothian for seven hours.
A four-mile stretch of motorway between junctions 3 and 3a, near Livingston, reopened at about 1300 GMT.A four-mile stretch of motorway between junctions 3 and 3a, near Livingston, reopened at about 1300 GMT.
The motorway had been closed since 0610 GMT due to a serious of crashes involving eight vehicles. The motorway had been closed since 0610 GMT due to a serious of crashes, involving eight vehicles.
It appears the man was killed when he was hit by a car as he exchanged details following an earlier accident.It appears the man was killed when he was hit by a car as he exchanged details following an earlier accident.
Inspector Dave Wilson of Lothian and Borders Police said: "The driver of a van has been involved in a minor accident.
"He and the other driver have been standing on the road way - presumably exchanging details - when he has been struck by one of the other vehicles which has been approaching westbound."
At the scene of the crash, a badly damaged Vauxhall car was blocking the westbound carriageway while a Ford Fiesta van could been seen on the opposite side of the road.
Wrong wayWrong way
Several other cars were scattered on the carriageway as police accident investigators carried out their work. Seven other people were injured, including two seriously, in a chain of collisions that brought gridlock to the area.
Roads around the Livingston area were subject to lengthy delays as vehicles were diverted away from the motorway from early morning. The crashes closed the motorway, which connects Edinburgh and Glasgow, in both directions during the busy morning rush-hour.
Cars already on the M8 had to wait until 1030 GMT for police to escort vehicles out of the westbound queue. Some motorists were stuck in tailbacks for more than four hours.
It was 1030 GMT before police escorted vehicles out of the westbound queue.
Cars were allowed to turn around and drive the wrong way down the carriageway to get clear of the scene.Cars were allowed to turn around and drive the wrong way down the carriageway to get clear of the scene.
The ambulance service said one person had died and two others had serious or traumatic injuries. One driver, who was stuck for almost four hours without moving, said: "It has been an absolute nightmare. I did not even have my engine switched on since about 7am until we started to move just before 11.
The crash caused major tailbacks in the area
They described four other people as walking wounded and one was "in shock".
Casualties were taken to St John's hospital in Livingston and the Royal Infirmary in Edinburgh.
At about 1000 GMT, one driver, who had not moved an inch for about three hours, said: "It has been an absolute nightmare. I have not even had my engine switched on since about 7am.
"It is so frustrating, because if I had been a bit earlier I would have missed it completely and if I was a bit later I would have been able to take a different route."It is so frustrating, because if I had been a bit earlier I would have missed it completely and if I was a bit later I would have been able to take a different route.
"But it is just bad luck that I hit it when I did and there is nowhere for me to go." "But it is just bad luck that I hit it when I did and there was nowhere for me to go."
The crash caused major tailbacks in the area
Police at the scene put out an appeal for anyone who may have hit any of the debris from the crash to contact them on 0131 311 3418.Police at the scene put out an appeal for anyone who may have hit any of the debris from the crash to contact them on 0131 311 3418.
They also want to hear from the drivers of any vehicles which were involved in the accident but who then carried on with their journey.They also want to hear from the drivers of any vehicles which were involved in the accident but who then carried on with their journey.
Police said investigations into the cause of the crash were continuing and a report would be submitted to the procurator fiscal in due course.
Inspector Dave Wilson of Lothian and Borders Police said: "The driver of a van has been involved in a minor accident.
"He and the other driver have been standing on the road way - presumably exchanging details - when he has been struck by one of the other vehicles which has been approaching westbound."