A CRASH that caused long tailbacks on the A1 this morning was caused after a lorry driver suffered a 'medical episode' at the wheel.

The crash happened shortly before 9am this morning and caused severe delays on A1(M) southbound between J51 A684 Leeming Bar and J48, the A6055 Boroughbridge.

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Lanes two and three on the southbound carriageway were closed and emergency services, including the air ambulance, were called to the scene.

A spokeswoman for the Yorkshire Ambulance Service confirmed this afternoon: "We received an emergency call at 8.55am this morning to reports of a lorry driver who had suffered a medical episode at the wheel on the southbound carriageway of the A1(M) near Boroughbridge.

"Two ambulances, a rapid response vehicle and an air ambulance were dispatched to the scene and the patient was conveyed by land ambulance to hospital."

A North Yorkshire Police spokesman said: "Police were called to reports of a single vehicle Road Traffic Collision on the A1(m) at 08.53am this morning.

Read more: Reports of huge tailbacks after crash on the A1 - as air ambulance are on the scene

"The collision has occurred just before J48 (Boroughbridge) on the southbound carriageway.

"The A1(m) currently remains closed southbound between J49 and J48.

"The northbound carriageway between J48 and J49 was also closed for a time to allow the Air Ambulance to land, this section has now re-opened.

"There are long delays in the area and motorists are advised to find an alternative route."

The A1 southbound between junctions 49 and 48 has now fully reopened but National Highways warns that queues of more than four miles long have built up.

A spokesperson for North Yorkshire Police said: "There is a lot of heavy traffic to clear so please do still avoid the area if possible.

"Thank you for your patience whilst we dealt with this incident."

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