UK-Based Zimbabwean Father of Three Dies in Fiery M25 Lorry Crash

UK-Based Zimbabwean Father of Three Dies in Fiery M25 Lorry Crash – A Zimbabwean truck driver based in the United Kingdom has died after a devastating collision involving heavy goods vehicles on the M25 motorway in Essex.

The deceased, Langton Zulu, a father of three from Kettering, Northamptonshire, was killed on Tuesday when the lorry he was driving caught fire following a collision with another truck transporting flammable liquid.

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Zulu is survived by his wife and three young sons aged eight, six and four.

According to reports, emergency services were first called to a separate lorry fire between Junction 27 and Junction 26 of the M25 at approximately 3:05am.

National Highways said the vehicle involved in the first incident was already engulfed in flames when emergency crews arrived.

Shortly afterwards, two additional lorries collided in slow-moving traffic between Junctions 28 and 27. One of the vehicles subsequently caught fire, resulting in Zulu’s death.

The incidents led to the closure of sections of the motorway for several hours, causing extensive traffic congestion throughout the day.

A spokesperson for National Highways said:

“The lorry shed a significant load across the carriageway, which we expect to take some time to clear.”

Essex Police urged motorists to avoid the affected area while emergency and recovery teams carried out their work.

“We know this will cause disruption, but this is important work and we’d urge motorists to find alternative routes,” the force said.

Recovery specialists, including transport company T J Cottis Transport, were deployed to assist in clearing the motorway. Managing director Jedd Cottis said the company dispatched three vehicles to the scene after receiving an early morning call.

The operation involved removing fire-damaged vehicles, debris and cargo scattered across the roadway. National Highways later confirmed that grab lorries were used to clear the burnt remains and damaged contents from the affected vehicles.

Images released from the scene showed towering flames and thick smoke billowing from one of the burning trucks, with reports indicating that hundreds of parcels were destroyed in the blaze.

At the height of the disruption, motorists experienced delays exceeding 70 minutes, with traffic queues stretching for approximately five miles.

Following extensive recovery and repair operations, all affected sections of the M25 were eventually reopened.

Authorities have launched investigations into the circumstances surrounding the fatal collision.