Eleven-car crash on major city motorway leaves two people injured
At least two people have been injured after a crash involving 11 cars on a major motorway in Glasgow.
The incident happened at about 12.15pm on Saturday across two lanes at Charing Cross, in the city centre, between junctions 18 and 19 westbound.
All emergency services were in attendance, with five fire engines and three ambulance crews present.
One of the injured people, a woman, was taken the city’s Queen Elizabeth University Hospital for assessment.
*UPDATE* 12:30#M8 westbound J18 – J19, fire service are now on scene, blocking the carriageway therefore traffic is now at a standstill https://t.co/5ysLDOWK11
— Traffic Scotland (@trafficscotland) February 23, 2019
A Scottish Ambulance spokesman said: “We were called to a road traffic accident on the M8 earlier today.
“Three crews attended, including our special operations response team.
“Only minor injuries were reported, with one female transferred to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital for further assessment.”
Traffic Scotland said the whole carriageway was blocked due to the heavy emergency service presence, leaving traffic at a standstill and causing major delays.
⛔️CLOSED⛔️12:50⌚️#M8 westbound is CLOSED after J17 Charing Cross to J19 due to an RTC. All emergency services are on scene, traffic is currently queueing right back to J12. #Glasgow@ScotTranservpic.twitter.com/NOsFYiLNm2
— Traffic Scotland (@trafficscotland) February 23, 2019
There were also “queues back to J25 eastbound due to onlookers”, with disruption as far back as the Clyde Tunnel.
The road reopened around 2.30pm.
A spokeswoman for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said: “We received a call from the ambulance service at 12.19pm. Five appliances were sent to an RTC involving 11 cars.
“There were two casualties but neither were life-threatening.”
*UPDATE* 14:39#M8 westbound is now fully REOPENED after J17 Charing Cross, heavy traffic back to J14 however
— Traffic Scotland (@trafficscotland) February 23, 2019
A Police Scotland social media account later added: “The M8 westbound has now re-opened following the earlier road crash at J18.
“Traffic queues will take some time to reduce so please consider an alternative route for the next few hours.”