Massive queues are building on the M1 near St Albans after a multiple vehicle car smash shut all lanes in both directions.
Drivers should currently expect delays of about an hour and a half between junctions 8 and 9 near Redbourn, and the incident is not expected to clear until 3pm.
Four cars were involved - a Vauxhall Meriva, a Peugeot, a Ford Transit panel van and a Ford Transit Luton van. One man in his 40s who was trapped had to be rescued by two ambulance crews and was air lifted to Royal London Hospital for treatment.
He had a suspected broken leg and abdomenal injury, neither of which are believed to be life-threatening.
Herts police and the East of England Ambulance Service dealt with the incident at the scene.
Although the accident happened northbound, lanes in both directions had to shut to allow the air ambulance to land.
A spokesperson from the police said: “The police were called at 11.04am today to reports of a multiple vehicle collision on the M1 between Junction 8 and 9 northbound.
“Officers are currently at the scene alongside the ambulance service and both the north and southbound carriageways have been closed to allow for the air ambulance to land.”
The southbound carriageway has since reopened, but northbound lanes are still closed.
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