M23 crash: Vintage car rally driver dies in lorry crash

A man has died while taking part in a classic car rally after his vintage vehicle crashed with a lorry on a motorway.

The 80-year-old, driving a 1903 Knox Runabout Old Porcupine, was killed at the scene of the crash on the M23 in Surrey at about 10:00 GMT.

His female passenger was seriously injured and taken to hospital.

The car had been entered into the Bonhams London to Brighton Veteran Car Run, organisers have confirmed.

They said the car had "left the route, which does not include the M23, when the crash took place".

More than 400 vehicles dating from before 1905 were registered to take part in this year's run.

The crash happened on the southbound carriageway, near Hooley.

The road remains closed both ways between junctions seven and eight, close to the M25 junction.

The run's organisers added: "We are doing all we can to support the family concerned and are working with the police, but we cannot comment any further at this stage."

Surrey Police urged anyone who witnessed the collision, or has dashcam footage, to get in touch.

The Veteran Car Run dates back to 1927 and commemorates the Emancipation Run of 1896 which celebrated the new-found freedom of motorists granted by the "repeal of the Red Flag Act".

The speed limit was raised to 14mph and the need for a man carrying a red flag to walk ahead of cars when they were being driven was abolished.

The 60-mile run began in London's Hyde Park at dawn, and the route included heading down the A23 through Gatwick, Crawley and Burgess Hill before finishing in Madeira Drive, Brighton.

Two years ago, six people were injured during the run when a 1902 Benz was involved in a crash with three other cars at Reigate Hill in Surrey.