5 July 2011 Last updated at 12:15 ET

M8 fully reopens after fatal crash near Harthill

The crash closed the M8 in both directions for more than four hours

The M8 between Glasgow and Edinburgh has fully reopened - almost 11 hours after a fatal crash near Harthill services caused severe disruption.

A 68-year-old man died after his Mercedes lorry crossed the central reservation, hit a Nissan Micra and struck a footbridge pier at 0600 BST.

It is thought he may have taken ill at the wheel. The female Micra driver, 37, was treated for minor injuries.

The M8 was closed in both directions for over four hours after the crash.

Emergency services attended but the lorry driver died at the scene.

The driver of the Nissan Micra was taken by ambulance to Monklands District General Hospital where she is being treated for minor injuries.

Sgt Paul Ferguson, from Strathclyde Police, said: "Extensive inquiries are ongoing into the cause of the crash, however, one line of inquiry we are following is that the driver of the lorry may have taken ill at the wheel.

"I would appeal to anyone who witnessed the crash, or anyone with information that may assist police inquiries to contact our office."

The eastbound and westbound carriageways were operating a single lane by early afternoon.

Road cleared

A spokesman for Transport Scotland said the road had now been fully reopened after it had been cleared of wreckage.

"Following the accident on the M8 this morning the incident site has now been cleared and the motorway is fully open to traffic," he said.

"Drivers requiring further information are advised to listen to travel bulletins and check the Traffic Scotland website before travelling."

The crash was witnessed by Iain Pope, the Daily Record's digital editor.

He told BBC Radio Scotland's Good Morning Scotland programme that he was about 500 yards from the collision and saw the immediate aftermath.

"What appears to have happened is that a lorry coming eastbound has crossed the central reservation on to the westbound carriageway and has struck a parapet under a footbridge and so the central reservation section has come away there," Mr Pope said.

"A westbound car has then hit a section of the central reservation, which was across the carriageway."