Part of the M20 will be closed until at least midday on Wednesday after police found a body on the road.
Officers were called at 6.05pm on Tuesday to the London-bound carriageway between junctions 10 and nine near Ashford.
A body was found on the road and the person was pronounced dead at the scene, Kent Police said on Tuesday night.
The #M20 J10-J9 westbound/Londonbound remains closed for ongoing @kentpoliceroads investigation following a very serious incident yesterday evening. @kentpoliceroads have stated that the carriageway is now likely to remain closed until at least midday pic.twitter.com/ILCEkmG8SC
— Highways England (@HighwaysSEAST) February 21, 2018
The death is being treated as unexplained and the force is appealing for anyone who saw a pedestrian in the area to come forward.
Highways England tweeted that the road will likely remain closed for ongoing investigations following “a very serious incident”.
#M20 London-bound near #Ashford closed overnight following fatal incident https://t.co/WTaNUO2x5a
— Kent Police (UK) (@kent_police) February 20, 2018
Pictures circulated online showed long queues of traffic at a standstill and Highways England told people to remain in their vehicles until police officers directed them to turn around.
Some took to Twitter to vent their anger after claiming drivers were parking in the hard shoulder and blocking emergency services from getting past.
The motorway provides a link to the Channel Tunnel and ports of Dover.
P&O Ferries tweeted to warn drivers to use an alternative route.
Anyone with information should call the Kent Police serious collision investigation unit on 01622 798538 quoting 20-0913.
