A lorry fire on the M40 southbound has caused hours of gridlock, leaving motorists stranded and forcing authorities to shut a section of the motorway.
The incident occurred between Junction 16 for Hockley Heath and Junction 15 for Warwick, where a large goods vehicle burst into flames, sending thick plumes of smoke billowing into the sky.
Firefighters Rush to Scene
Emergency services, including Warwickshire Fire and Rescue, were quickly deployed, with four fire engines tackling the intense blaze. Footage from the scene shows the lorry’s tarpaulin completely incinerated, with its cargo destroyed by the fire.
In an update on X (formerly Twitter), National Highways confirmed:
“The M40 in Warwickshire is closed southbound between J16 (Hockley Heath) and J15 (Warwick) due to a lorry fire. Emergency services are on scene, and traffic officers are managing the incident.
At 4pm, officials announced that some trapped vehicles were being released in lane 3, but major congestion remained.
Drivers Stuck for Hours
Commuters have reported being at a standstill for more than two and a half hours, with traffic backing up onto Junction 3 of the M42.
Frustrated motorists took to social media to express their concerns, with one posting:
“Is there any update for people stuck directly behind the incident? We’ve been here for over two hours now.”
Diversions in Place
Drivers are being advised to exit the M40 at Junction 16 and take the A4189 and B4463 before rejoining at Junction 15.
