Dozens of people have been injured as more than 100 vehicles were involved in a series of crashes in thick fog on the A249 Sheppey crossing in Kent.
Eight of those hurt in the collisions, which took place at about 07:15 BST, have serious injuries.
Early reports said 200 people had been hurt, but police later revised the figure.
Firefighters said they had freed five people from their vehicles on the southbound carriageway.
One witness said visibility was very poor but drivers were approaching the crossing with no lights.
Others at the scene described a mass of tangled cars, lorries, and a car transporter. Some reports said the crash went on for 10 minutes as cars continuously collided with each other.
Driver Martin Stammers said the scene was "horrendous" and described seeing cars under lorries and people lying on the floor.
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Aerial footage shows the aftermath of the collisions, which happened in thick fog
He said visibility was about 10 to 20 yards when he approached the bridge and saw five cars smashed into each other with one across the outside lane.
He managed to squeeze through a gap between that car and the central reservation, he said.
"For 10 minutes afterwards, all we could hear was screeching, cars thudding into each other, lorries crashing," he added.
He said he and his son ran to warn other drivers and warn cars to slow down.
"Later, a woman came up to us sobbing saying 'thank you, thank you, you saved my life'," he said.
Ch Insp Andy Reeves said the crash was over a "protracted area" with undamaged vehicles between others which had collided.
Continue reading the main storyHe said there were a number of injuries but no-one had died.
Several people, who were still in their vehicles, may have suffered serious injuries, he added.
'Hazardous fog'When asked if the fog had been a factor, Mr Reeves said: "It's too early to give a cause. The weather will be a factor.
"I can confirm that it was, and it continues to be, very hazardous. It was described to me as a very thick fog and it was certainly low visibility at the time."
He said he expected the crossing to remain closed in both directions for the whole of the working day, including the evening rush hour.
Simon Jones BBC South East reporter
It was almost a domino effect you had occurring on this crossing.
In total about 100 vehicles have been involved with 200 or so people injured, six of them seriously hurt.
Emergency services are still dealing with some of the more seriously injured casualties as well as the people who walked away from their vehicles.
I've seen someone being wheeled to an ambulance who looked in a pretty bad condition, he was on a stretcher with a support around his head.
Police have said this crossing is going to be shut, potentially, for the entire day. The 100 vehicles involved in the incident will all have to be moved but before that officers have to begin an investigation into the causes of the crash.
He added if drivers had to travel to the area they should be aware of the hazardous conditions and traffic delays, use their lights and leave plenty of distance.
The front of the crash happened where traffic was coming off the bridge towards Sittingbourne, and it had then "concertinaed" over the bridge behind it with incidents stretching back to Queenborough, he said.
He said there could also be a small number of incidents on the northbound carriageway.
Police said if people had to make essential journeys to the island they could use the old Kingsferry Bridge, but should expect long delays.
The £100m four-lane crossing, which connects the Isle of Sheppey with mainland Kent, opened in 2006 and is 0.75 miles (1.25km) long and rises to 115ft (35m) at its highest point.
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