M25 Multi-Vehicle Crash Sparks Severe Gridlock Near Clacket Lane

Nahida Ashraf
Oct 23, 2026 10:13 AM
Long tailbacks form on the M25 clockwise following a multi-vehicle collision near Clacket Lane Services.

Emergency services rushed to the scene of a multi-vehicle collision on the M25 clockwise carriageway between Junction 5 for Sevenoaks and Junction 6 for Godstone on Friday, October 23, 2026. The incident, which occurred at approximately 8:35 am and involved a car and a van near the Clacket Lane Services, forced National Highways to temporarily halt all traffic and fully block the road. Motorists across the southeast region have been warned to anticipate significant disruption as response teams work to clear the wreckage and restore normal traffic flow.

Speaking to Daily Dazzling Dawn, travel authorities confirmed that the emergency response has resulted in severe knock-on delays stretching back for seven miles on the approach. Commuters caught in the gridlock are facing extended hold-ups, with initial estimates suggesting that normal driving conditions will take several hours to fully resume as recovery operations and safety inspections are completed. National Highways and local police units remain deployed at the scene to manage the backlog and investigate the circumstances surrounding the collision.

The morning rush hour came to a sudden standstill as the multi-vehicle smash blocked critical lanes on one of the nation's busiest orbital routes. Daily Dazzling Dawn understands that traffic was held strictly on the clockwise stretch to allow emergency personnel unhindered access to the vehicles involved. While teams are working with urgency to clear the debris, restoring normal traffic patterns typically depends on the removal of heavy wreckage and clearance of fluid spills. Drivers are strongly advised to check live traffic updates before setting out and to seek alternative routes to bypass the affected stretch near Clacket Lane Services.

National Highways has urged motorists traveling through Kent and Surrey to exercise extreme caution and expect prolonged delays. Daily Dazzling Dawn learned that updates will continue to be issued as response crews make headway on the ground. Commuters are advised to monitor official travel broadcasts and allow extra time for their journeys while emergency services strive to clear the carriageway and ease the severe congestion gripping the motorway network.

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Long tailbacks form on the M25 clockwise following a multi-vehicle collision near Clacket Lane Services.