A driver escaped from a burning car on a major dual carriageway today.

The A414 was closed due to the incident between the M1 near Hemel Hempstead and the Park Street roundabout near St Albans.

The stretch of road has now re-opened, Highways England has said.


Photos and video show a car on fire on the carriageway.

Police said there was a crash invovling a Vauxhall Corsa and two lorries, before the car burst into flames.

Highways England tweeted shortly before 1pm that the road was closed.

Rachel Payne, from St Albans, captured footage of the fire after she spotted smoke while she was driving at around 12.36pm.

Hillingdon Times: Photo: Rachel PaynePhoto: Rachel Payne

She said: "I was driving and saw black smoke coming up. My friend has horses next to there so I went to the bridge to check.

"It was ferocious and fierce, I've never seen anything like that before.

"All of a sudden it literally went 'bang' and exploded.

"I was wearing my uniform and now it's turned black."

She added that she saw the driver had escaped the vehicle before the fire worsened.

The driver was being attended to by emergency services - their condition is unknown at this stage.

Hillingdon Times:

Fire crews from St Albans, Garston and Hemel attended to extinguish the flames.

Ambulances and an air ambulance were also at the scene.

Traffic is still heavy on the M1 heading southbound at Hemel Hempstead.

It is also busy northbound on the M1 between Bricket Wood and Hemel.