A MOTORWAY worker was airlifted to hospital with serious head injuries today after a horror smash on the M3.

The man was taken to Southampton General Hospital by air ambulance after an articulated lorry crashed into three stationary maintenance vehicles on the northbound carriageway between junctions 12 at Chandler’s Ford and 13 at Eastleigh at 3.10pm.

The flatbed lorry and two vans were parked on the hard shoulder when the lorry struck them and one of his colleagues was taken to the same hospital by ambulance with what are thought to be less serious injuries.

Initial reports from the police were that three people had been injured in the incident.

Police have arrested the lorry driver on suspicion of careless driving.

Motorists can expect delays of up to one hour in the area with tailbacks stretching along the M27, A33 and A30 and diversions in place.

Police expect to open one lane of the northbound carriageway imminently but lanes one and two and the junction 13 northbound on slip road will be shut for some time.

The southbound carriageway closed for an hour while the air ambulance landed, but reopened an hour later.

Anyone who witnessed the collision should contact police on 101, or 0845 045 4545 from outside Hampshire, quoting Operation Idris.

http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/10489794.Motorway_shut_after_crash/