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| Motorway open after major crash | Motorway open after major crash |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| 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 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 series of crashes, involving eight vehicles. | The motorway had been closed since 0610 GMT due to a series 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. |
| Wrong way | Wrong way |
| Seven other people were injured, including two seriously, in a chain of collisions that brought gridlock to the area. | Seven other people were injured, including two seriously, in a chain of collisions that brought gridlock to the area. |
| The crashes closed the motorway, which connects Edinburgh and Glasgow, in both directions during the busy morning rush-hour. | The crashes closed the motorway, which connects Edinburgh and Glasgow, in both directions during the busy morning rush-hour. |
| Some motorists were stuck in tailbacks for more than four hours. | Some motorists were stuck in tailbacks for more than four hours. |
| It was 1030 GMT before police escorted vehicles out of the westbound queue. | 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 crash caused major tailbacks in the area | |
| 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. | 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. |
| "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 was 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." |
| 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. | 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. | 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." | "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." |