As millions of people across the United Kingdom prepared to travel home for Christmas, tragedy struck on one of the country’s busiest motorways, plunging the festive getaway into chaos and sorrow. On December 24, 2025, a fatal collision on the M2 in Kent claimed the life of a young woman and triggered hours of disruption for holiday travelers already contending with record congestion across roads, rail, and airports.
The incident unfolded shortly before 12:50pm on the westbound carriageway of the M2, between Junction 5 at the Stockbury Interchange near Sittingbourne and Junction 4 at the Brooms Wood Interchange near Hempstead. According to Kent Police, a black Volkswagen T-Roc, driven by a woman in her 20s from the Faversham area, collided with the central reservation and overturned. There were no passengers in the car and no other vehicles involved. Emergency services, including Kent Police, Kent Fire and Rescue Service, South East Coast Ambulance Service, and National Highways Traffic Officers, were dispatched to the scene. Despite their rapid response, the driver was pronounced dead at the scene. Her next of kin have been informed, police said.
Officers from the Serious Collision Investigation Unit closed the carriageway between Junctions 5 and 4 to conduct their enquiries, a move that would have ripple effects throughout the region’s already strained transport network. National Highways, in a statement at 4:40pm, warned that the road was “likely to remain closed for some time,” and it wasn’t until after 10pm that the motorway fully reopened, according to official updates.
Witnesses described a heavy emergency services presence, with barriers erected and numerous responders working at the scene. Kent Fire and Rescue Service confirmed that three fire engines attended the incident from 12:50pm to 1:44pm. Traffic information services reported that the car had hit the central barrier and overturned, blocking the westbound lanes and forcing drivers to find alternative routes. National Highways managed traffic by diverting vehicles off the M2 at Junction 5 to the southbound A249, then directing them to Junction 7 of the M20 westbound—a detour that added significant time to already arduous journeys.
Police have appealed for witnesses and motorists with dashcam footage to come forward. Anyone with information is urged to call 01622 798538, quoting reference BS/AW/092/25. Officers are particularly interested in hearing from anyone who saw the incident itself or the black Volkswagen T-Roc prior to the crash. Dashcam footage can also be uploaded online to assist the investigation.
The timing of the tragedy could hardly have been worse for travelers. Christmas Eve 2025 had been forecast as the busiest travel day in years. The RAC estimated that 4.2 million leisure trips would be made by car on December 24—the highest level since the organization began recording data in 2013 and a dramatic increase of 8 million more trips than the previous year. The AA predicted that more than 22 million cars would be on the roads on Christmas Eve alone. According to the RAC, “Traffic is expected to be heaviest on major roads between 1pm and 7pm, so our advice to drivers—especially those travelling longer distances—is to set out before this time if possible.”
But the roads weren’t the only part of the UK’s transport system under strain. Airports and train stations were also bracing for a surge in travelers. Data from Cirium showed that 42,046 departures were scheduled from UK airports between December 19 and January 4, a 2 percent increase from the previous year. Christmas Day itself was becoming a surprisingly popular day for flights, with 889 departures scheduled—10 percent higher than last year and 33 percent higher than pre-pandemic levels. The busiest days for major airports had already passed in the preceding week, but the holiday period was far from over.
Rail travelers, meanwhile, faced a litany of disruptions and closures. No trains were running from London Liverpool Street and Waterloo stations between Christmas and New Year’s Day due to engineering works, and limited service was expected to continue until January 4 at Waterloo. Other major closures included the absence of trains between Leeds and York through January 6, between Cambridge North, Cambridge, Bury St Edmunds and Stansted Airport until January 5, and between Milton Keynes and Rugby until January 5. Even Great Western Railway services between Reading and Gatwick Airport were disrupted on Christmas Eve due to staff shortages, with GWR warning, “Train services to and from these stations may be subject to disruption on all routes.”
As if things weren’t complicated enough, the M27 was also completely closed in both directions from Junction 9 (Whiteley/Park Gate) to Junction 11 (Fareham East/Gosport) starting at 8pm on Christmas Eve and not scheduled to reopen until 4am on January 4. These closures forced even more travelers onto the roads, compounding the congestion and making for what many described as one of the most difficult Christmas getaways in recent memory.
Images from the day told their own story: long queues of traffic snaking along the M2, M25, and M6; crowded platforms at London’s Euston and King’s Cross stations; and bustling airport terminals filled with families and solo travelers alike, all hoping to reach loved ones in time for the holiday. For many, the journey home became a test of patience and resilience, with delays and diversions at every turn.
National Highways and the RAC both issued advice for motorists, urging them to check their vehicles before setting out—paying particular attention to tyre condition, oil and coolant levels, and headlight adjustment. The RAC spokesperson cautioned, “We’re also expecting a rise in breakdowns as a result of the switch to colder weather.”
Despite the travel chaos, the fatal crash on the M2 served as a sobering reminder of the real risks that come with the festive rush. While millions focused on the inconvenience of delays, a family in Kent was left to grieve the loss of a loved one, her journey home cut tragically short.
As the investigation into the M2 collision continues and the nation’s roads, rails, and skies remain crowded for the holiday period, officials and travel experts alike are urging everyone to plan ahead, stay patient, and above all, take extra care—because sometimes, the most important thing is simply arriving safely.
