M3 crash J4–J3 westbound

Crash on the M3 westbound at J4–J3 on Friday 16 October 2026, from 17:33. Cleared at 19:54 after 2 h 21 min. Timeline of reports from TomTom, the motorway signs and National Highways.

Status

Cleared 19:54 on 16 Oct 2026, after 2 h 21 min

Location

M3 westbound · J4–J3

Reported as

Collision

Lanes

1 of 4 lanes closed

At its worst

Stationary traffic · delay ~75 min

Sources

TomTom · Motorway signs ×3 · National Highways ×6

Timeline

1. 17:33 Motorway signs: “COLLISION”
2. 17:40 TomTom: queueing traffic, “Stationary traffic”, delay ~18 min
3. 17:40 Motorway signs: “STRANDED VEHICLE”
4. 17:44 TomTom: delay now ~28 min (was ~18)
5. 17:49 TomTom: now says collision, “Stationary traffic, Accident”
6. 17:50 National Highways: 1 of 4 lanes closed
7. 18:06 National Highways: 1 of 4 lanes closed
8. 18:12 National Highways: 1 of 4 lanes closed
9. 18:12 National Highways: 1 of 4 lanes closed
10. 18:12 TomTom: delay now ~75 min (was ~47)
11. 18:23 Motorway signs: “STRANDED VEHICLE”
12. 18:23 National Highways: 1 of 4 lanes closed
13. 18:23 National Highways: 1 of 4 lanes closed
14. 18:24 Motorway signs no longer show “STRANDED VEHICLE”
15. 18:24 Motorway signs no longer show “COLLISION”
16. 18:26 National Highways: lane closure lifted
17. 18:53 TomTom: delay now ~20 min (was ~31)
18. 18:58 TomTom: “Queuing traffic, Accident”
19. 19:34 TomTom no longer reports it
20. 19:48 National Highways: lane closure lifted
21. 19:54 Motorway signs no longer show “STRANDED VEHICLE”
22. 19:54 All clear: no source reports it any more

Source reports

• Queuing traffic, Accident
• Overhead signs read “STRANDED VEHICLE” (1 sign; furthest along: M3 eastbound between J4 and J3).
• Overhead signs read “COLLISION” (2 signs; furthest along: M3 westbound between J3 and J4).
• M3 eastbound between J4 and J3
• M3 westbound between J3 and J4
• Overhead signs read “STRANDED VEHICLE” (3 signs; furthest along: M3 eastbound between J3 and J2).
• M3 eastbound between J3 and J2

Other recent incidents on the M3

• M3 crash J11 eastbound09:08 · cleared after 3 h 28 min
• M3 crash J3–J2 eastbound06:26 · cleared after 2 h 24 min
• M3 crash J3–J2 westboundyesterday 06:35 · cleared after 2 h 8 min
• M3 crash J14–J13 eastboundTue 17:06 · cleared after 1 h 33 min
• M3 stopped traffic J13–J12 eastboundTue 10:57 · cleared after 4 h 31 min
• M3 stopped traffic J12–J13Mon 06:54 · cleared after 8 h 40 min
• M3 stopped traffic9 Oct 2026 16:52 · cleared after 41 min
• M3 crash J3–J2 eastbound9 Oct 2026 14:04 · cleared after 2 h 25 min
• M3 reported crash J4–J4A westbound8 Oct 2026 08:54 · cleared after 32 h 45 min
• M3 crash J3–J4 westbound7 Oct 2026 17:05 · cleared after 1 h 24 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.