Man left with life-threatening injuries after crash

A man in his 40s has been left with life-threatening injuries after a scooter collided with the central reservation of the M1 motorway.

Hertfordshire Police said a grey Yamaha scooter crashed at about 15:30 BST on Wednesday near junction eight, northbound, for Hemel Hempstead.

The road was closed overnight but has since reopened.

The force said the man and a woman in her 40s were taken to hospital with serious injuries.

Police, the East of England Ambulance Service, Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service and Herts and Essex Air Ambulance Service all attended.

Sgt Chris Whales said: "As part of our investigations into what happened, I am appealing to anyone who either witnessed the collision or was driving in the area at the time of the incident to please contact me."

He also appealed for anyone with dashcam footage to get in touch.

The road, just a few miles away in Bedfordshire, was also closed for several hours on Wednesday, northbound between junctions 11 for Luton and 11A for Dunstable and Houghton Regis, following a crash.

Two cars and two lorries were involved, and firefighters also tackled an unrelated lorry fire, which was part of the traffic caught within the closure, National Highways said.

The road was shut overnight for emergency resurfacing work and for pre-planned works to be carried out and has since reopened.

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