EYE-WITNESSES have told of the horror crash which injured two police officers during a pursuit.
The M23 was closed for more than six hours on Saturday, March 26, after a five-vehicle crash between Junction 10 A264 Copthorne Way (Crawley) and the M25 interchange.
A motorcyclist said he noticed an unusual number of police cars in the area before “all hell let loose”.
“Next thing, a car tears past weaving across the lanes closely followed by a cop car with bells and whistles,” he said.
“Three more cops follow when all hell let loose, debris was flying everywhere, the complete suspension of one of the police cars was ripped out and flew across the road.
“Two cop cars were slaughtered, as well as a Mercedes taxi and a red Golf.
“I weaved through the debris and saw the first cop car has stopped a car they were after. On my way back, it is teaming with emergency vehicles and the motorway is shut for investigation southbound.”
Police said officers responded to an Automated Number Plate Recognition hit northbound on the M23 in Patcham, before pursuing a vehicle.
The black Audi was travelling at an excessive speed and crashed.
Five vehicles were then involved in the crash, including two police cars who were not part of the pursuit.
Three people, including two police officers, sustained injuries as a result.
Another motorist who saw was the aftermath of the crash said: “You could clearly see the two wrecked police cars with more officers on the road trying to maintain the scene and stop traffic.
“Drivers on the other side from the smash were slowing down to have a look which made conditions going south more dangerous.”
A 23-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs, driving without a licence and driving without insurance.
She has since been released under investigation.
The incident happened at about 11.05am.
Anyone who witnessed the collision or has dashcam footage is asked to email collision.appeal@sussex.police.uk or call 101, quoting serial number 223 of 26/03.
In a statement, National Highways South-East said emergency services worked with Sussex Police, who led the response.
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