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Part of A229 Bluebell Hill closed near Maidstone after tree falls on Tesco delivery van

By: Sean McPolin smcpolin@thekmgroup.co.uk

Published: 19:18, 07 April 2021

Updated: 19:39, 07 April 2021

A busy road has been closed after a tree fell on top of a Tesco delivery van.

Part of Bluebell Hill, close to Maidstone, was shut at around 6.20pm following the incident.

A tree fell on top of a Tesco van on Bluebell Hill near Maidstone. Picture: Jon Middleditch

The A229 northbound is currently closed between M20 J6 and Chatham Road because of the tree.

Kent County Council Highways officials are advising people to expect long delays with the road expected to be reopened at 8.30pm.

The driver of the vehicle is thought to be okay but "shaken up".

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Fellow motorist Jon Middleditch was a few cars behind the van when the tree fell.

He said: "I was about 10 cars behind and got out and ran over to the van with a few other people, but the driver was just out of the van and really shaken up.

Police are at the scene after a tree fell on top of a Tesco van near Maidstone

"We checked if he was okay and there were no obvious injuries and he told how how a stick from the tree come through the roof.

"I heard the trees beginning to crack and snap again so we made him get up and move out the way a bit and got everyone to move their vehicles away. It was really scary."

A police spokesman said: "Kent Police was called at 5.26pm to a collision reported to involve a van and a tree on a slip road for Blue Bell Hill, northbound, off junction 6 of the M20.

"No serious injuries have been reported however the incident has caused the slip road to become blocked.

"Officers remain at the scene and the relevant highways authority has been contacted to arrange removal of the tree."

Read more: All the latest news from Maidstone

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