Emergency services are at the scene of a serious crash on the A299 Thanet Way today (April 1) and road closures are in place.
A lorry and three cars are believed to be involved in the incident between St Nicholas and Herne Bay on the London-bound carriageway.
Police, paramedics, air ambulance and the fire service are in attendance with passengers currently trapped in vehicles.
A Kent Fire and Rescue spokesman said: “Kent Fire and Rescue Service is at the scene of a serious crash on the A299 Thanet Way involving a lorry and two cars. A number of passengers of the vehicles are trapped and crews are working with other emergency services to free them.
“The crash happened on the London-bound carriageway around one mile after the St Nicholas at Wade roundabout.”
Biker Timothy Wooding is at the scene. He said: “I can see two air ambulance, three fire engines and about five ambulances.
“A car at the front appears undamaged, but the two behind the truck are. The Thanet Way is closed both ways now.”
One driver, Robert Lansdown, had helped to manage the traffic, getting cars to move aside for emergency vehicles. Another witness said it looked like the pile up had started with a broken down car.
They said: “There was a car on the verge a little further on from the accident (broken down maybe) with a police car behind it. That had caused the traffic to slow right down and it looked to us as though the vehicles involved in this pile up had not stopped quickly enough. I hope people are not badly hurt. The car behind the truck was a mess and was smoking too.”
There's been a serious collision on the #A299, near Birchington. Road closures are in place & drivers advised to plan alternative routes.
— Kent Police RPU (@KentPoliceRoads) April 1, 2017
A Kent Police spokesman said: “Kent Police was called at 2pm following a collision on the London carriageway of the A299, close to the turn off for St Nicholas At Wade.
“The incident involved four vehicles. Police and the South East Coast Ambulance Service are at the scene and an air ambulance has also landed. Road closures are in place.”
Advice is to use the A28 instead if possible.