Man dies in M8 lorry crash

Published on 30/03/2012 10:22

A man has dies following a collision with a lorry on the M8 motorway in the early hours of this morning.

The incident, involving a Fiat Stilo and a MAN HGV, occurred at about 1am today near West Lothian, about one mile east of Harthill, on the eastbound carriageway.

The crash had caused disruption on the affected stretch of motorway with only one lane open to rush-hour commuters, which is the main route between Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Police said there are initial reports the Fiat Stilo was travelling west on the eastbound carriageway, having joined it at junction 3A, before it collided with the HGV which was heading east.

A 19-year-old man from Bathgate who was driving the car died at the scene, while the 39-year-old lorry driver was not injured.

The eastbound carriageway of the M8 was closed between junction five, Shotts, and junction four, Whitburn, for around five hours while investigations were carried out at the scene.

Inspector Richard Latto said: “At the moment we are working to establish the circumstances leading up to this collision, and would appeal for anyone who may have been in the area at the time, and who may have seen what happened, to contact police on 0131 311 3131.”