The M11 was closed today as emergency services tried to cut free bus passengers after a massive pile-up on the motorway near Stansted airport.
Officers were called shortly before 10am on Monday April 4, 2011, following reports that a heavy goods vehicle, four cars and a coach had been involved in the incident on the northbound carriageway between junctions 8 and 9.
Four people have been taken to Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge. They are a man and a woman who were trapped on the coach and suffered fractures to their legs and a man and woman in separate cars who have minor neck and back injuries.
The northbound carriageway of the M11 will remain closed for several hours while road collision investigators and commercial vehicle specialists from Essex Police carry out an initial investigation.
Anyone who witnessed the crash or has information about events leading to the collisions should contact Essex Police on 0300 333 4444.
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It is hoped that the southbound carriageway will soon be fully opened but diversions will remain in place northbound.
A spokesman for Essex Police said: “Police are at the scene of a serious multi-vehicle collision on the M11 between Junctions 8 and 9.
“Officers were called shortly before 10am today after reports that four lorries, four cars and a coach had been involved in the incident.
“The northbound carriageway of the M11 is closed and is expected to remain shut for several hours. The southbound carriageway has also been affected and is open only on the hard shoulder.”
Firefighters from Saffron Walden, Stansted and Cambridge were using cutting equipment to try to free the passengers.
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An Essex County Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said: “Two people are trapped in the coach and one person is trapped in the car.”