Traffic Alert: M20 Closed

A tractor fell from a bridge onto the central reservation of the M20 in Kent, sending the driver to hospital and closing the road.

Tractor tumbles from bridge onto M20 leaving driver critically injured

A tractor detached from its trailer and fell onto the central reservation of the M20 between junctions 2 and 3 near Wrotham after a crash on the A227 overbridge. The incident happened around 11:17am on Monday. The tractor's driver was airlifted to Kings College Hospital in London in a critical but stable condition. Firefighters, paramedics and an air ambulance attended the scene. Police initially believed two vehicles were involved. The M20 and the A227 were closed in both directions, with motorists urged to use alternative routes. Social media footage showed the overturned tractor and damaged railings along the central reservation.

Witnesses and anyone with dashcam footage are asked to come forward to help investigators. National Highways said the M20 would remain closed for emergency repairs and resurfacing between junctions 1 and 3 after damage to the road and a fuel spill. The force said the incident is under investigation and that both the M20 and A227 remain closed as crews work to clear debris and restore traffic. The incident disrupted traffic while authorities worked to manage queues on either side of the bridge.

The accident highlights how quickly a traffic disruption can become a major transport headache. A single crash escalates into a fuel spill, extensive repairs, and hours of detours for commuters. The immediate focus is the injured driver and the safety of responders, but the wider impact hits local economies, daily routines, and the reliability of regional transport links. The incident also underscores the importance of rapid, clear public communication during closures and the need for ongoing road safety and heavy-vehicle management on overbridges.

Going forward, authorities may review bridge safety standards and incident response protocols to reduce closures and speed up recovery. Better coordination with traffic managers, more robust dashcam reporting, and proactive maintenance of central reservations could help limit future disruptions and protect drivers.”

Highlights

Officials say lessons will be learned from this incident to improve safety and response.