Road chaos as M1 is closed in bridge drama

The M1 was shut between junctions 29 and 30 for almost two hours when a man from Chesterfield threatened to jump from the A619 road bridge which crosses the northbound carriageway.

The A619 also had to be shut to allow emergency vehicles better access to the scene.

Both roads were closed just before 11am and police negotiators talked to the man to calm him down.

Roads reopened around noon after the 39-year-old was coaxed down, then detained under mental health legislation.

Police reported a number of motorists leaving their cars and standing in the road while the drama unfolded and the M1 had to be patrolled by police to ensure it was safe to re-open.

The closure caused major delays in the area as the A619 was already being used as a diversion route.

Roads surrounding Barl-borough and Clowne became extremely busy at motorists tried to avoid the M1.

A spokesman for Derby-shire Police said: “We had to close both the northbound and southbound carriageway for officer safety reasons and to protect members of the public.”

The incident followed a motorway collision the night before which also closed the M1 for two hours.

A man had to be cut free from his BMW and taken to hospital with leg injuries after a three-car crash on the northbound carriageway between junctions 37 and 38 at Barnsley. A number of people were treated at the scene.