Motorists traveling north early on Sunday were detoured via Brunswick Valley Way after a series of accidents caused a pile-up on the M1.
At about 1am a car was being driven north along the M1 motorway at Brunswick Heads, and was towing a fully loaded box trailer. Three passengers were in the vehicle.
The driver became distracted and veered out of the lane onto the shoulder of the road.
As a result, the trailer collided with the brifen wire causing the vehicle to fishtail and both the vehicle and trailer flipped onto their sides.
All four occupants were trapped until other motorists assisted them from the vehicle.
While the occupants were being assisted from the vehicle, a further vehicle that was also travelling north on the M1 had slowed considerably to pass the accident site. Yet another vehicle travelling behind this vehicle collided with the rear of the slowing vehicle. Both vehicles were considerably damaged.
Because of both accidents the M1 north bound needed to be closed for a period of approximately 2.5hrs with all north bound traffic being diverted along Brunswick Valley Way and back onto the M1.
Three persons were conveyed to Tweed heads Hospital with minor injuries.
