Lorry driver dies after vehicle plunges 20ft from motorway bridge

| Senior Live News reporter Published August 12, 2026 10:40am Updated August 12, 2026 11:56am The tipper lorry fell around 20ft from the M3 bridge and landed on its side (Picture: UKNIP) A driver in his 20s has died after a lorry crashed through a motorway barrier in Hampshire, landing onto the road underneath. The serious crash happened on the M3 between Eastleigh and Southampton yesterday evening after the tipper lorry veered off the motorway near junction 14. It crashed through the safety barrier near the southbound entry slip road and landed on its side in the undergrowth on Chestnut Avenue. The emergency services tried to help the driver, a man in his 20s, but he succumbed to his injuries. The complex recovery operation continues after the lorry came off the bridge on the M3 (Picture: Simon Czapp/Solent News) Sign up for all of the latest stories Start your day informed with Metro's News Updates newsletter or get Breaking News alerts the moment it happens. Hampshire Constabulary said: ‘Despite the best efforts of emergency services on scene the driver, a man in his 20s, was pronounced deceased at the scene. His family have been informed.’ The entry slip road from the M3 onto the M27 westbound remains closed and is expected to be shut for a while, the police warned. Motorists are urged to use other routes in the meantime. The tipper lorry hit the motorway barrier before crashing through it on the M3 southbound slip road at junction 14 (Picture: UKNIP) Hampshire Constabulary said: ‘Emergency services remain at the scene of a serious collision on the M3 southbound carriageway at J14. ‘We were called at 10.01pm on 11 August to reports of a lorry in collision with the bridge barrier, causing the vehicle to leave the carriageway onto Chestnut Avenue. ‘The two left lanes which lead to the slip road for the M27 westbound have been closed, but the two lanes on the right of the southbound carriageway remain open. The fatal crash happened at about 10pm yesterday on the major motorway between Southampton and Eastleigh (Picture: UKNIP) ‘Chestnut Avenue has also been closed between Nightingale Avenue and Falkland Road. ‘These closures are likely to be in place for a significant amount of time due to the damage caused to the crash barrier on the bridge. ‘We will be completing our investigation at the scene and handing over the local authority who will need to carry out extensive work to ensure the road is safe before reopening. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video ‘We would advise people to find an alternative route.’ Metro approached the ambulance service for a comment. Last night’s crash happened just some miles east of the New Forest wildfire. Firefighters continue to put out the New Forest fire for the fourth day, with crews seen spraying water onto the burnt ground on Tuesday (Picture: Beaminster Fire Station/PA Wire) The New Forest fire, which started from a van fire on the A31, has destroyed around 140 football pitches worth of heathland (Picture: Beaminster Fire Station/PA Wire) It has now raged for four days after it was sparked by a van fire on the side of the road, which spread to the dry heathland. Firefighters have been tackling the blaze in the tinderbox conditions at the famous beauty spot, coupled with hot weather. The blaze has since engulfed around 140 football pitches worth of land. Hampshire Fire Service said today: ‘Challenging terrain and limited access to the remote location continue to make firefighting operations difficult, and the high temperatures forecast for today are expected to add to those challenges.’ Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk. For more stories like this, check our news page. Arrow MORE: Girl, 6, dies and another child injured in crash involving a car and a lorry Arrow MORE: ‘Universally adored’ musician dies after being hit by tractor while walking Arrow MORE: Huge lorry fire causes rush hour delays on M6 near Birmingham News Updates Stay on top of the headlines with daily email updates.