London paralysed as major artery closed for NINE HOURS after 1am horror smash – commuters face ‘severe delays’ with traffic backed up for MILES
A motorcyclist is fighting for his life in hospital after a horror crash that has brought London’s morning rush hour to a grinding halt – as police revealed TWO men have been arrested at the scene on suspicion of stealing a motorbike.
The critically injured rider was rushed to a major trauma centre after the collision involving two motorcyclists on the A102 northbound approach to the Blackwall Tunnel at 1:10am this morning.
In a dramatic twist, Metropolitan Police arrested two 24-year-old men at the crash scene on suspicion of theft of a motor vehicle – with one ALSO arrested for cannabis possession as he lay injured on the tarmac.
TUNNEL OF TERROR
The vital Thames crossing has been COMPLETELY closed northbound since the crash, causing traffic chaos that has rippled across south east London for more than nine hours.
Furious commuters have been trapped in gridlock stretching back through:
- FALCONWOOD – Traffic at standstill
- LEWISHAM – Major delays on all routes
- BLACKHEATH – Drivers abandoning cars
- DEPTFORD – Complete gridlock
- GREENWICH – Journey times TRIPLED
- ELTHAM TUNNEL – Tailbacks for miles
Transport for London warned the northbound tunnel remains sealed off from the Sun In The Sands Roundabout to the Woolwich Road Flyover – one of the capital’s busiest stretches.
EMERGENCY RESPONSE
London Ambulance Service scrambled a major response to the horror smash:
- Two ambulance crews
- Incident response officer
- Hazardous Area Response Team
- Specialist trauma team
A spokesperson confirmed: “We were called at 1.08am this morning to reports of a road traffic collision in the Blackwall Tunnel, Charlton.
The injured motorcyclist was treated at the scene before being blue-lighted to a major trauma hospital where he remains in CRITICAL condition.
ARRESTS AT SCENE
In extraordinary scenes, police arrested BOTH riders involved in the crash:
- Two men, both aged 24
- Arrested on suspicion of theft of a motor vehicle
- One further arrested for cannabis possession
- Both remain in police custody for questioning
The arrests have raised urgent questions about whether the motorcycles involved were STOLEN – and if the crash occurred during a high-speed pursuit.
COMMUTER NIGHTMARE
The tunnel closure has created a perfect storm of traffic misery:
NORTHBOUND: Completely CLOSED – no access SOUTHBOUND: Down to ONE LANE causing severe delaysDIVERSION ROUTES: All clogged with displaced traffic A2 SHOOTERS HILL: Gridlocked westbound LOCAL ROADS: Complete standstill
Bus routes 132 and SL4 have been thrown into chaos, with the SL4 diverted in BOTH directions.
One furious commuter told us: “It’s absolute carnage. I’ve been stuck for TWO HOURS trying to get to work. This tunnel is a death trap.”
TUNNEL OF DOOM
The Blackwall Tunnel has a notorious reputation for accidents and breakdowns:
- Built in 1897 – one of London’s oldest river crossings
- Carries 100,000+ vehicles daily
- Height restriction of just 4 metres in Victorian bore
- Regular scene of crashes and closures
- New Silvertown Tunnel opened in April to ease pressure
The northbound tunnel’s tight Victorian curves and low height limit have long made it a hazard for larger vehicles and motorcyclists.
GHOSTLY REPUTATION
Chillingly, the Blackwall Tunnel is infamous for its “phantom hitchhiker” – a ghostly motorcyclist said to haunt the northern approach where today’s crash occurred.
Legend tells of riders picking up a hitchhiker at the tunnel entrance, only for the passenger to VANISH before reaching the other side.
Local folklore claims the ghost is a motorcyclist killed in the tunnel years ago – with some versions dating the haunting back to a fatal crash in 1960.
WHEN WILL IT REOPEN?
Police say road closures will remain in place “with buses on diversion as the incident is dealt with” – but have given NO indication of when the tunnel might reopen.
Collision investigation teams are combing the scene for evidence as detectives probe the suspected vehicle theft.
Transport bosses are urging drivers to avoid the area completely, warning of “severe delays” likely to continue throughout the morning.
THE HUMAN COST
This latest tragedy highlights the daily dangers faced by London’s motorcyclists:
- 36 bikers killed on London roads in 2024
- 1,180 seriously injured
- Blackwall Tunnel a regular accident blackspot
- Calls for improved safety measures
A London Ambulance Service spokesperson said the rider received immediate trauma care at the scene before the emergency transfer to hospital.
TRAFFIC ALERT – AVOID THE AREA
CLOSED: A102 northbound from Sun In The Sands to Woolwich Road DELAYS: Up to 2 HOURS on diversion routesAFFECTED AREAS: Falconwood, Lewisham, Blackheath, Deptford, Greenwich BUS DIVERSIONS: Routes 132 and SL4 ADVICE: Use alternative river crossings or delay journey
Were YOU caught in the Blackwall chaos? Send your pictures and stories
Image credit: A102 Northern Approach to the Blackwall Tunnel by David Dixon, licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.
