Two Crashes Close A14 With Miles of Queues

Part of the A14 in Northamptonshire has been closed in both directions following two separate crashes.

The road is shut eastbound between the Catthorpe Interchange and junction two for Kelmarsh and westbound between junction two and junction one at Welford.

Queuing traffic on the A14 westbound near Rothwell this morning  Pic: Jim Hakewill

Firefighters released one person who was trapped following a collision involving multiple vehicles between junctions 1 and 2 just before 5.30am.

A spokesperson for Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue said: “Crews from multiple stations attended the scene and, using specialist cutting gear, extricated a casualty from one of the vehicles and left them in the care of East Midlands Ambulance Service who then conveyed the casualty via land ambulance to hospital.

“There was also a separate incident which Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service was called to shortly before 9am – reports of a small vehicle fire.

“Two crews attended the scene, but the vehicle was not involved in a fire, it is believed to have been a mechanical defect.”

Northamptonshire Police have advised motorists to avoid the area, as the road is expected to be closed for some time.

Drivers travelling west have faced around 15 miles of queues stretching back towards junction eight for Kettering, while surrounding routes are also heavily affected.

Emergency services are at the scene and highways officers are managing traffic, with diversion routes in place on both the M1 and M6.