Easter begins with 30 car pile-up on A1(M)
March 29, 2002
Police were warning motorists to avoid the A1(M) in North Yorkshire today following a multi-car pile-up early on Good Friday.
Up to 30 vehicles were involved in the crash which happened in thick fog near Boroughbridge – and gave the region a bad start to the Easter Holiday.
The motorway was closed in both directions for almost an hour.
Cars travelling southbound are believed to have crossed the central reservation near junction 48, and the road was closed in both directions for about an hour-and-a-half.
Reports say a caravan was involved and the wreckage of the vehicle was strewn across the road.
The southbound carriageway has reopened, although the northbound carriageway remains closed and congested.
North Yorkshire Fire Service sent nine emergency vehicles to the scene at 6.15am, and a spokeswoman said six casualties had already been "released" from their cars and were being treated by paramedics.
60,000 breakdowns
She added: "We do not know the extent of their injuries. A search of the other vehicles is continuing.
"As our vehicles arrived shunts were still occurring behind the major accident." Police are urging drivers to take extra care as visibility is poor.
The accident comes just a day after two people died in a series of collisions on the M40 in Oxfordshire.
About 100 vehicles were involved in the pile-up, which was the worst on the motorway in 10 years.
Another crash on the M5 in Somerset killed two people and left a third critically injured.
Millions of Easter travellers were due to take to the roads on Friday for the start of the holiday weekend.
On guard The AA is expecting to deal with 60,000 breakdowns over the four days.
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