A highways worker has died after being hit by a van on the M23 near Gatwick Airport, in a collision that shut a busy stretch of motorway during the morning rush hour.
The 65-year-old man, from Kent, was pronounced dead at the scene after being struck on the southbound carriageway near Junction 9 for Crawley, shortly before 1am on Wednesday 8 July. A 38-year-old man from Croydon, who was driving the van, has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and drink-driving. He remains in police custody.
The southbound carriageway was closed between Junction 8 (for the M25 near Merstham) and Junction 10 (for the A264 at Crawley) while investigators worked at the scene, with diversions in place and National Highways warning the closure could remain until at least early afternoon. The disruption caused severe delays back towards the M26 in Kent and past Reigate in Surrey.
Gatwick Airport advised passengers travelling to catch flights to allow extra time for their journey given the ongoing closure. Sussex Police have appealed for witnesses and anyone with dashcam footage to come forward, quoting Operation Oakcross.
If you regularly drive routes near Gatwick, DriverMatty’s UK Airport Guide is a handy reference for planning ahead around this kind of disruption.
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