M1 crash J39 northbound

Crash on the M1 northbound at J39 on Wednesday 21 October 2026, from 07:34. Cleared at 09:33 after 1 h 59 min. Timeline of reports from TomTom, the motorway signs and National Highways.

Status

Cleared 09:33 on 21 Oct 2026, after 1 h 59 min

Location

M1 northbound · J39

Reported as

Collision

Lanes

2 of 3 lanes closed

At its worst

Stationary traffic · delay ~63 min

Sources

TomTom · Motorway signs ×2 · National Highways ×2

Timeline

1. 07:34 TomTom: queueing traffic, “Stationary traffic”, delay ~15 min
2. 07:36 Motorway signs: “COLLISION”
3. 07:38 Motorway signs: “M1 J39 COLLISION”
4. 07:39 TomTom: delay now ~25 min (was ~15)
5. 07:43 TomTom: delay now ~39 min (was ~25)
6. 07:46 National Highways: 2 of 3 lanes closed
7. 08:17 National Highways: 2 of 3 lanes closed
8. 08:49 National Highways: 1 of 3 lanes closed (was 2)
9. 08:51 Motorway signs no longer show “M1 J39 COLLISION”
10. 09:17 National Highways: lane closure lifted
11. 09:21 Motorway signs no longer show “COLLISION”
12. 09:24 TomTom: delay now ~13 min (was ~22)
13. 09:33 TomTom no longer reports it
14. 09:33 All clear: no source reports it any more

Source reports

• Stationary traffic
• Overhead signs read “M1 J39 COLLISION” (1 sign; e.g. M1 northbound between J37 and J38). Marker placed near M1 J39 using the signs there, so it is approximate.
• Overhead signs read “COLLISION” (1 sign; furthest along: M1 J39 northbound exit).
• M1 J39 northbound exit

Other recent incidents on the M1

• M1 delays J9–J10 northbound06:14 · cleared after 3 h 38 min
• M1 crash J44–J45 northboundyesterday 20:02 · cleared after 47 min
• M1 crash J23–J23A northboundyesterday 17:02 · cleared after 1 h 12 min
• M1 stopped traffic J21A–J21 southboundyesterday 16:38 · cleared after 5 h 25 min
• M1 crash J8–J9 northboundyesterday 14:48 · cleared after 4 h 54 min
• M1 reported crash J24A–J25 northboundyesterday 12:03 · cleared after 42 min
• M1 stopped traffic J22–J21Ayesterday 08:13 · cleared after 1 h 5 min
• M1 reported crash J22–J23 northboundyesterday 08:01 · cleared after 43 min
• M1 crash J34–J35 northboundyesterday 07:35 · cleared after 39 min
• M1 crash J36–J37 northboundyesterday 07:31 · cleared after 2 h 14 min

The sources don't report causes or injuries, so neither does this page. Times are UK time. For alerts, follow @motorways.me on Bluesky.