Winchester crashes that left men critically ill and shut M3 twice in two days

On Sunday, September 8, the M3 was closed northbound between Eastleigh and Winchester, which led to severe travel disruption, after a man suffered potentially life-threatening injuries.

In a statement, a spokesperson for Hampshire Constabulary said: “Police were called at 2.21pm today to a report of man found seriously injured in the northbound carriageway between junctions 12 and 11.

“At this early stage of the investigation it is believed he may have been involved in a collision with a vehicle which did not stop at the scene.

“The injured man, aged in his 30s, has been taken to hospital with potentially life-threatening injuries.”

A second serious incident occurred on the M3 a day later on Monday, September 9.

Shortly before 6.30am a car collided with a pedestrian on the northbound carriageway of the motorway, between junctions 9 and 8 through Winchester.

The pedestrian was taken to hospital in a life-threatening condition.

Police later confirmed that a 37-year-old man from Southampton had been arrested on suspicion of driving a vehicle whilst unfit through drugs. He was released under investigation.

The road remained closed until the afternoon.

Hampshire Constabulary then released a statement after a man had been seen “jumping in and out of traffic” prior to the crash earlier on Saturday morning.

A spokesperson said: “We were called at 6.23am to reports of a man jumping in and out of traffic on the A33; which runs parallel to the M3. This was followed by a second call from a woman who had been driving on the A33 when a man jumped in front of her vehicle and tried to open the door.

“At some time between 6.30am and 6.35am a collision occurred on the M3 involving a car and a pedestrian, who matches the description of the man seen a short time before on the A33.

“The pedestrian has been taken to hospital in a life-threatening condition. He remains in hospital at this time.”