Dartford Crossing chaos after lorry jack-knifes and hits car, spilling fuel across QEII Bridge

Drivers are facing major disruption on the Dartford Crossing after a heavy goods vehicle struck a car and jack-knifed on the QEII Bridge, spilling fuel across all lanes and forcing a full closure of the southbound crossing.

The serious incident took place on the southbound A282 stretch of the M25, where the QEII Bridge carries traffic over the River Thames. Fuel is reported to have leaked across every lane following the collision, which involved a lorry clipping a car while overtaking, before jack-knifing.

National Highways confirmed that all southbound traffic is currently being diverted through the east bore tunnel. As a result, northbound traffic is restricted to the west bore only, which has a height limit of 4.8 metres (15 feet 9 inches). Any vehicles over that limit will need to find an alternative route via the clockwise M25.

In a separate incident, just before the left-hand tunnel on the northbound side, there have also been reports of a two-car collision, compounding the disruption.

Eyewitnesses stuck in the queues described a large emergency services presence, with more units reportedly arriving at the scene throughout the afternoon.

Lauren Pink, whose best friend was involved in the crash, said:
“My best friend was in the car that was hit – the lorry went to overtake and clipped her and spun her car sideways. There’s debris all over the bridge.”

Another regular user of the crossing, Julia Gunns, commented:
“Once on the bridge, vehicles should not be allowed to change lanes!”

Bus services across Dartford have also been hit by delays, with local operator Ensign Bus warning of severe disruption. A spokesperson for the company said:
“All bus routes are likely to suffer delay and alterations due to a serious incident on the Dartford Crossing. This is due to expected extreme traffic congestion. Please accept our apologies for the inconvenience.”

There is currently no estimate on when the QEII Bridge will reopen, with recovery and clean-up work underway. Motorists are being urged to avoid the area and plan alternative routes.

UPDATE 17:00: Severe delays of over 2 hours as resurfacing required

Drivers are now being urged to “abandon” any plans to use the Dartford Crossing this evening, as the QEII Bridge remains closed following the collision and large fuel spill.

National Highways says emergency resurfacing is required due to the extent of the diesel spillage, and the bridge cannot be reopened until this is complete.

There are now delays of over two hours on all approaches to the crossing. Gridlock is also reported on the A2, the A13 in both directions, and across the wider Dartford area.

One driver said their usual 15-minute drive home took five hours due to the congestion.

A spokesperson for Essex Police said: “We expect the Dartford River Crossing to remain closed into this evening following an earlier collision and damage to the road surface and barriers. These repairs are important to maintain the safety of the bridge for all road users.

“We would like to thank drivers affected already for their ongoing patience, and encourage everyone to check before travelling in the area this evening. Disruption to the surrounding road network is expected and drivers should plan their journeys accordingly.