SMASH HORROR
M23 crash: 34 people injured in horror 15-car pile up at rush hour leaving road ‘covered in debris’
Vans, cars and a minibus were seen flipped upside down and laying on their sides
A HORROR 15 car pile up on the M23 has left 34 people injured.
Emergency services arrived at the terrifying smash near Pease Pottage, between J10 and J11 at around 5.40pm.
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According to a witness, there had been a hail storm in the minutes leading up to the crash with "two inches of ice" on the roads.
It has been reported the entire carriageway was covered in debris.
Vans, cars and a minibus were seen flipped upside down and laying on their sides.
An air ambulance was at the scene and there were several injured people walking around the crash site.
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Eyewitness Siena had been driving at the time with her boyfriend and told The Sun: "It had been raining heavily and then all of a sudden the road was filled with ice.
"My boyfriend hit the brakes and there were loads of cars stopping, we skidded a bit.
"Then I just saw smoke and cars driving through debris, there were cars on the side flipped over, people crawling out of cars.
"There were a couple of cars with people huddling together, someone was clearly hurt.
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"We were passing by a couple minutes after it happened. We saw vans and taxis flipped over.
";There were injured people, people in shock, crying, people waiting for help.
"Every car was definitely damaged quite badly. There was about 100 meters of cars everywhere.
"We were in shock. Everyone was. It was hard to watch. In most cars the airbags had gone off, and had a large significant amount of damage. The roads were covered in ice.
"I saw a van that the whole front windscreen had been shattered and was off the car."
A spokesperson for Sussex Police said earlier this evening: "The M23 is closed both ways between J10 and J11 after a collision involving around 15 vehicles.
"Emergency services were called at 5.40pm and the ambulance service is treating multiple casualties.
"Please avoid the area and expect disruption. Thank you for your patience."
In an update, a spokesperson said: "The southbound carriageway of the M23 has reopened after a collision involving multiple vehicles.
"Junctions 10 and 11 northbound remain closed.
"Around 34 people are being treated by the ambulance service, with no life-threatening injuries. Please continue to avoid the area."
Roger Williams told : “Has to be 30 plus vehicles smashed.
“There’s vans on their sides, a minibus upside down.
"I counted five facing the wrong way after spinning but the whole carriageway covered in debris.
“There was a hail storm. The carriageway was covered in two inches of ice and people were speeding through it.”
West Sussex Fire and Rescue have confirmed: "We are currently in attendance at an RTC involving multiple vehicles between Junctions 10 and 11 of the M23 at Pease Pottage. Please avoid the area."
"The M23 northbound carriageway just north of Junction 11 is closed. Please find alternative routes," a spokesperson wrote in an update.
Delays have now also been reported on the A2011 as motorists avoid the scene.
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A spokesperson for South East Coast Ambulance service said: "We remain at the scene of a multi-vehicle RTC on the M23 between junction 10 and 11.
"We are assessing and treating multiple casualties and urge people to avoid the area."
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