A YOUNG female driver has told of how she was waiting in her car for over five hours in the traffic chaos that followed the M1 motorway closure due to a 'serious' three car crash on Friday evening.
Police had to close the motorway from Lurgan to Moira in both directions due to the collision.
It was the third collision on that part of the motorway and the second time it had to be closed that day.
Emer McCormick (23) from Lurgan described how she watched drivers carry young children out of the stopped cars to hand over to their partners or family members who accessed a laneway close to the motorway two miles out from junction 10 to Lurgan.
She also spoke of how when her own car battery died during the long wait, she was fortunate enough to get into another car driven by another woman to keep herself warm.
"This is absolutely insane, it's a complete nightmare," said Miss McCormick.
"We must only be two miles away the Lurgan junction but I have been stuck here since around 5.20pm, having left work in Belfast around 4.45pm.
"The accident must have just happened about 300 metres away from where I am.
"There must be at least 500ms of parked cars in both lanes ahead of me and two lines of traffic heading all the way back to the Moira junction.
"Some people have been handing over children to other people near the lane in order for them to get home and there's cars and vans all over the place here.
"I've called the AA to come out to help me with my car but he's stuck on the other side of Moira and can't get to me.
"I don't know what time I will be home tonight and the police haven't been anywhere near us. We are just stuck here."
Earlier police warned of 'significant disruption' to motorists and asked them to avoid the motorway between Moira and Lurgan. They also appealed for motorists to remain in their cars for their own safety and not to attempt to do U-turns or drive on the hard shoulder.
