Multi-vehicle crash closes main route overnight

A crash involving 16 cars has forced the closure of a busy route overnight.

The collision happened in fog on the A303 near Thruxton, Hampshire, shortly after 20:20 BST on Saturday.

South Central Ambulance Service (SCAS) said at least eight people suffered minor injuries and one person with a broken arm was taken to hospital by family members.

The vehicles have been recovered but National Highways said a "significant" oil spillage required extensive specialist cleaning before the road could reopen.

A SCAS spokesperson said: "We were alerted to the incident by police at 20:22 reporting a multiple-vehicle collision in fog on the A303, with a number of minor injuries.

"We sent two ambulances, two cars with a specialist paramedic and a team leader, plus members of our Hazardous Area Response Team due to the nature of the scene.

"Approximately eight people were triaged for minor injuries with three main patients treated on scene. One patient with a broken arm was taken to hospital by family members."

Hampshire Constabulary said the westbound carriageway was closed between the junctions for Quarley and Weyhill at Hundred Acre Roundabout while emergency services responded to the incident.

On Sunday morning, National Highways said the westbound carriageway was closed between the A342 near Thruxton and the A338 near Cholderton, Wiltshire.

It said in an update: "Emergency services and National Highways Traffic Officers responded to a collision involving 16 vehicles.

"Specialist cleaning teams have been working through the night to remove the oil and make the carriageway safe.

"Once the cleaning work is complete, the carriageway will need to be inspected to determine whether the oil has damaged the road surface."

Diversions are in place and drivers have been advised to allow extra time to travel or to delay their journey until the road has reopened.