An 18-year-old man has been arrested after a police incident shut a section of the A2 near Dartford during the Wednesday morning rush hour.
Kent Police said officers were called shortly after 4am to reports of a car stolen in a burglary at a property in Gravesend.
Following a search of the area, patrols pursued the vehicle onto the A2 near Bean.
At 6.21am, National Highways confirmed the westbound carriageway had been fully closed between the B225 for Bean and Junction 2 of the M25 (Darenth Interchange) while police dealt with the incident.
Arrest made
The stolen car was brought to a stop on the A2 and the driver, an 18-year-old man from Essex, was arrested. He remains in police custody as enquiries continue.
A Kent Police spokesperson said:
“Kent Police was called to a report that a car had been stolen following a burglary at a property in Gravesend, shortly after 4am on Wednesday, August 20. Patrols completed a search of the area and, following a pursuit, the vehicle was stopped on the A2 near Bean. An 18-year-old man from Essex was arrested and an investigation is underway.”
Traffic delays
The closure caused queues of up to four miles and delays of around 40 minutes during the morning peak. The road was fully reopened by 6.30am, but residual congestion continued for some time after.
