At least 40 people have been injured with four being taken to hospital after a collision involving 24 vehicles.
Emergency services are currently dealing with a multi-vehicle collision near Peas Pottage on the M23 in Sussex.
The motorway, which links London to Brighton, was shut in both directions between junctions 10 and 11, at around 5.40pm.
A spokesperson for Sussex Police said: “The M23 is closed both ways between J10 and J11 after a collision involving around 15 vehicles.
The motorway, which links London to Brighton, was shut in both directions between junctions 10 and 11
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“Emergency services were called at 5.40pm and the ambulance service is treating multiple casualties.
“Please avoid the area and expect disruption.”
A triage centre is understood to have been up to deal with those who have been injured.
Sussex Police said that no-one has sustained life-threatening injuries.
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South East Coast Ambulance, Sussex Police and West Sussex Fire and Rescue are all in attendance.
National Highways said it expected to be working into the night to fully clear the northbound carriageway.
The southbound side reopened to traffic earlier, however the northbound side is still closed.
A spokesperson for West Sussex Fire and Rescue said: "We are currently in attendance at an RTC involving multiple vehicles between Junctions 10 and 11 of the M23 at Pease Pottage. Please avoid the area."
The southbound side reopened to traffic earlier, however the northbound side is still closed
Geograph
"We remain at the scene of a multi-vehicle RTC on the M23 between junction 10 and 11. We are assessing and treating multiple casualties and urge people to avoid the area," a spokesperson for South East Coast Ambulance service said.
Reports of heavy rain in the area were recorded before the collision.
Roger Williams, who was driving down the M23 when the pile-up happened, told The Argus it is the worst he has seen in 62 years.
He added: "I counted five facing wrong way after spinning, but the whole carriageway covered in debris.
"There was a hail storm. The carriageway was covered in two inches of ice and people were speeding through it."
