M1 Northamptonshire: Car crashes into barrier and with lorry

The M1 was closed northbound in Northamptonshire, between junction 16 at Upper Heyford and junction 18 near Rugby for several hours

A man has been seriously injured after a car crashed into the central barrier of a motorway and then with a lorry.

Northamptonshire Police said the Citroen C1 was going northbound between junctions 16 and 17 of the M1 when the incident happened at 03:30 GMT.

It said "for reasons unknown" the Citroen collided with the barrier.

The car then crossed the carriageway and collided with the hard shoulder barrier. The lorry then collided with the car and ended up in a ditch.

Police said the driver of the Citroen car, a man in his 20s, was taken to University Hospital Coventry with serious injuries.

The driver of the lorry, a man in his 40s, had minor injuries.

Motorists were warned of delays due to the crash

The section of the M1, from junction 16 at Upper Heyford to junction 18 at Rugby, was closed for several hours and reopened at about 14:50.

National Highways said there had been long delays in the area.

Police have appealed for witnesses.