M27 delays: A31 crash causes huge delays as people get out vehicles

The eastbound crash between Cadnam and Ringwood at 10am on Saturday caused major delays of up to 50 minutes westbound on the M27.

Families missed flights, at least one person missed a wedding and others missed seeing relatives due to the delays.

Police said the people in the vehicles suffered minor injuries. One person has been taken to hospital.

The crash, which caused lengthy delays on the A31 and M27, involved a black Mini Cooper, silver Vauxhall Corsa and grey Renault Scenic.

Families were left waiting in up to 90 minutes of congestion. Even when it cleared there was still three miles of traffic to battle through.

LIVE UPDATES: M27 delays up to 50 minutes due to 'incident' on A31 - updates

One woman told the Southern Daily Echo her 50-year-old sister was on her way from southwest London to visit when she was hit by the delays.

The sister was driving the pair's 82-year-old father down for a family barbecue.

The woman said: "She was on her way to visit me in SW London and has our elderly dad in the car.

"She first messaged at 10.30am to say she is stuck just past Burley and she is still in the same place.

"There are people out of their cars, and she's just had to do a wee at the roadside.

"She said that she's spoken to a family on their way to the airport who have missed their plane.

"She won't be visiting now as it'll be too late by the time they get going."

Drivers and passengers on the A31 left their vehicles in the heat as they waited for the A31 to reopen.

The delays around Junction 2 at Cadnam lasted several hours before the road reopened by about 12.45pm.

Officers are now appealing for witnesses following the crash on the westbound side.

A spokesperson from the force said: “If anyone witnessed this collision and has not already contacted the police, please call 101 quoting reference 44230367136.”