A police officer has been rushed to hospital after a squad car was flipped onto its roof in a hair-raising chase with a white van on Scotland’s busiest motorway.
Over a dozen force vehicles rushed to the scene between the M8 junctions two and three following the incident shortly after 7:35pm on Friday evening.
Motorists reported seeing officers in hot pursuit of the van as it weaved in and out of traffic between Newbridge and Livingston.
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The vehicle is then understood to have been spun onto its roof at a grass verge by the side of the road.
One eyewitness reported the van was "upside down and wedged into a hedge," as commuters remained stranded while the road was shut down.
A police car was also reportedly overturned during the incident, with roads chiefs immediately locking down the scene.
It has now been confirmed both the driver of the police car and the driver of the van have been taken to hospital for emergency treatment.
Traffic Scotland said all drivers travelling westbound towards Glasgow had been diverted away from the location and warned motorists the route was likely to be closed for several hours.
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A Police Scotland spokesperson confirmed a police vehicle had been damaged in the incident, but added officers were continuing investigations.
They added: "The M8 westbound is closed between junction two and junction three following an incident involving a police vehicle and a van around 7.35pm on Friday, April 8.
"The vehicle had failed to stop for officers a short time earlier.
"The driver of the police vehicle and the driver of the van have been taken to hospital."
This story is being updated.
