Overview
- The northbound stretch between Junctions 10 and 9 near Gatwick closed after a single-car crash early Thursday around 5:30 am, creating long tailbacks as police investigated.
- Sussex Police said the car hit the central barrier and a tree, killing a 23-year-old woman at the scene and seriously injuring a 23-year-old man, and they arrested the 21-year-old driver on suspicion of causing death and serious injury by dangerous driving.
- National Highways set a diversion via the A264, A22 and M25, and warned of up to 90-minute delays and about five miles of queues.
- Gatwick Airport stayed open with flights running, though passengers were told to leave earlier, and police under Operation Dorset asked witnesses to send dashcam footage to collision.appeal@sussex.police.uk.
- The crash came as other serious incidents hit major motorways over the holiday period, including a fatal M61 collision near Bolton and closures on the M1, M6 and M6 Toll, stretching emergency teams and raising travel times.