Police are appealing for witnesses after an 18-year-old died in a crash on the M25 this morning (Monday).

It happened at j18 clockwise for Chorleywood and Rickmansworth at 7.30am.

Police have revealed that a red Peugeot 3008, which had four passengers on board, crashed into a barrier between the main carriageway and the slip road.

It is unknown how the crash happened but police carried out an investigation which shut the motorway between j17 and j18 for five hours.

The 18-year-old man was sat in one of the back seats of the car. He suffered serious injuries and despite the efforts of the paramedics, which included an air ambulance, he died at the scene.

His next of kin have been informed and are being supported by family liaison officers.

A woman in her 30s and an 11-year-old boy who were also in the car were not injured.

The driver, a man aged in his 30s, suffered minor injuries and was taken to hospital for further treatment.

After reviewing CCTV footage, police are very keen to trace three cars who may have witnessed what happened. The registration plates are not clear but descriptions of the three vehicles have been issued.

They include an articulated lorry with a light-coloured cab, green side curtains, and white rear doors. The second vehicle is another articulated lorry cab with a flatbed on the rear which was carrying a number of white building bags.

The third vehicle police would like to trace is a 3.5 tonne flatbed truck with a high level rail or cage. Police believe it may be a Ford Transit or Iveco style truck with lift up panels at the rear. The vehicle appears to have been carrying traffic cones which suggests it may be a traffic management vehicle.

Anyone with any dash cam footage who may have been driving near to junction 18 at around 7.30am are also encouraged to get in touch.

Sergeant James Wood, from the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Road Policing Unit, said: “This is a very upsetting incident in which a young man has sadly lost his life, and our thoughts are very much with his family at this difficult time.

“We are conducting a thorough investigation into the circumstances that led to the collision, and as part of that we are appealing to the public for information.

“The motorway would have been very busy at this time of day, with many people commuting to and from work. The collision is likely to have been witnessed by a number of people and we are very keen to speak to anyone who saw what happened, or saw the vehicle prior to or following the incident.

“If you have any information you think could be helpful, please email the Forensic Collision Investigation Unit on FCIUsouth@Herts.pnn.police.uk, report online at https://www.herts.police.uk/Report or call the non-emergency number 101, quoting ISR 126 of August 20 or you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800555111.