A driver has died after three lorries crashed into each other and burst into flames on the M40 just after another truck went up in smoke on the other side of the road.
Commuters described 'visions of hell' on the motorway this morning after the night of road horror closed the M40 in both directions between junction 15 near Henley in Arden and junction 16 near Warwick.
The road will remained closed well into this evening with frustrated motorists taking to social media to post images of huge tailbacks.
A 40-year-old man driving one of the lorries involved three-vehicle crash died at the scene, despite paramedics' desperate bid to save him. Another truck driver, a man in his 60s, was treated for serious injuries and taken to hospital, while the third was uninjured.
Angry drivers stuck in queues face further chaos after a fourth lorry got into trouble between junctions 13 and 14 northbound. The broken down heavy goods vehicle has closed two of three lanes.
Highways staff are pictured working to remove the burnt out shell of the lorry that caught fire on the southbound M40 carriageway in the early hours of this morning
Destroyed: The remnants of the heavy goods vehicle that caught on fire at 2.40am on the M40 this morning in Warwickshire
Dozens of emergency service vehicles are pictured on the stretch of the M40 this morning where the two horror lorry incidents happened within half an hour of each other in the early hours
The motorway is likely to be closed all day as emergency services and highways staff work to clear the crash scenes
This truck (pictured this morning as highway staff work to clear the scene) caught fire on the M40 southbound around 2.40am this morning and was completely destroyed in the blaze
A fourth lorry got into trouble on the M40 this afternoon when it broke down closing two of three lanes northbound between junctions 13 and 14, causing a knock-on effect to already hellish delays in the area
Empty: A huge stretch of the M40 is pictured deserted this morning with road closures expected to stay in place all day. One person has died as a result of the three-lorry crash
Fire crews were scrambled to a blazing lorry fire on the southbound carriageway at 2.40am before three other lorries smashed into each other on the northbound road half an hour later at 4.12am, causing another fire and fuel spillage in the opposite direction.
One video from the scene shows the lorry shooting out flames before exploding with a loud bang into a bigger fireball.
Recovery operations are currently in place on both sides of the motorway, where the burnt out vehicles are being dealt with.
A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: 'On arrival, ambulance staff two lorries that were on fire. A third lorry was just in front of them.
Vision of hell: A lorry fire and another crash involving three heavy goods vehicles in the early hours of this morning closed the M40 in both directions between junctions 15 and 16 between Henley in Arden and Warwick
Pictures show two of the three lorries that smashed into one another on the northbound carriageway of the M40 at 4am
'Unfortunately, the driver of one lorry died at the scene. The driver of a second lorry, a man in his 60s, was treated at the scene for a medical condition and was taken to Warwick hospital. The third driver was uninjured.
'The motorway is likely to remain shut for some time and police are appealing for information in relation to the crash.'
Warwickshire Police added: 'A man - believed to be in his 40s - was pronounced deceased at the scene. His next of kin has been informed. Formal identification is yet to take place and a file will be prepared for the coroner in due course.
'A second man - thought to be in his 60s - was taken to hospital with injuries that are not believed to be life-threatening at this time.'
One commuter took to Instagram to complain of three-hour delays as a result of the M40 chaos between junctions 15 and 16
Dramatic images from the M40 in Warwickshire show huge flames coming out of the three lorries that crashed at 4am
Commuters posted pictures of both M40 crash scenes on social media in the early hours. Images show flames billowing from some of the vehicles involved
Crash scene: Flames were seen coming out of a lorry after it crashed on the M40 before another three lorries piled-up on the other side of the road half an hour later between Henley in Arden and Warwick
Motorist Janet Moss, 45, said: 'I was driving south past the junction at around 4.45am and the scene was like a vision from hell.
'There were fire engines everywhere and the lorries were engulfed in a fireball.
'I was convinced it was a fatality but I've heard on the radio the drivers managed to escape. It's a miracle really.'
M40 motorists are unable to get onto the M42, creating gridlock traffic on many of the roads south of Birmingham.
There is congestion on some parts of the M1 as drivers desperately try to find alternative routes to get home from work or away for the weekend.
The three-vehicle lorry crash on the M40 northbound sent huge flames shooting into the night's sky and fuel spilling over
Eyewitness Jordan Jones, 21 from Bromsgrove, said: 'I watched the fire for about an hour.
'There were a couple of explosions and I thought that the trees were going to catch fire and spread to where I was.'
Joseph Davis, 25, also witnessed the blaze on his way home from Reading.
He said: 'I was driving up and saw hazards flashing so, I pulled into lane three to get a closer look.
'I was about three cars from the front but I couldn't see very far down the road due to the smoke.
'I must have been sat there about an hour a half waiting before the police waved us through.'
School teacher John Wilson, 30, of Warwick, said: 'I drive that stretch of road every day to work in Solihull and the two fires must have been opposite each other.
'I've read on Twitter that the lorries crashed when they were distracted by the fire on the opposite side of the road.'
Large sections of the M40 were empty today after the motorway was closed following this morning's major incident
Group commander Neil McElvenny, of Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: 'We were called to a large goods vehicle fire involving pallets on the southbound carriageway just after 2.40am. Crews were quickly in attendance to deal with the fire.
'While at the incident, a call came in to inform us of a second incident on the northbound carriageway involving three lorries, two of which caught fire.
'Due to the severity of the incident, all lanes were closed whilst the emergency services dealt with the scene.
'These incidents have caused significant disruption for many, but we are working closely with Warwickshire Police and the Highways Agency and our priority is to make the area safe and open the M40 again as soon as possible.
'The clean-up and inconvenience for some locals, commuters and other motorists will continue for a while yet. I'd like to thank people for their continued patience.'
A spokesman for Warwickshire Police said: 'Emergency services and fire crews are also on the scene.
'The road is expected to be closed for the majority of the morning while the southbound stretch of the M40 from junctions 15 to 16 is also closed at this time due to a separate lorry fire.
'Motorists are advised to avoid the area completely and follow diversions put in place by Highways England.'
Highways England said in a statement: 'The road is expected to be closed for the majority of the morning, while the southbound stretch of the M40 from junctions 15 to 16 is also closed at this time due to a separate lorry fire.
'Motorists are advised to avoid the area completely and follow diversions put in place by Highways England.'
Have you been caught up in the M40 chaos? Email your pictures to pictures@mailonline.co.uk
A map shows where the M40 has been closed in both directions in Warwickshire between Henley in Arden and Warwick
hienalouca.com
https://hienalouca.com/2018/09/28/m40-closed-after-two-crashes-and-a-lorry-fire-during-morning-rush-hour/
Main photo article A driver has died after three lorries crashed into each other and burst into flames on the M40 just after another truck went up in smoke on the other side of the road.
Commuters described ‘visions of hell’ on the motorway this morning after the night of road horror closed the M40 i...
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Dianne Reeves Online news HienaLouca
https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1/2018/09/28/11/4606042-6217873-image-a-38_1538131848958.jpg
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