The crash closed the motorway in both directions One man has died and a woman was injured in a crash involving a car and lorry on the main route between Glasgow and Edinburgh.
The M8 was completely closed near the Harthill services following the crash, which happened at about 0600 BST.
The emergency services, including five fire engines, are at the scene. Diversions have been put in place.
Westbound drivers were told to come off at junction 4 at Whitburn and eastbound travellers were diverted at junction 6.
Iain Pope, the Daily Record’s digital editor, witnessed the crash.
He told BBC Good Morning Scotland 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.”
Police have now opened the central reservation to allow traffic caught in the tailback to begin moving again.
Were you caught up in the disruption? You can get in touch with the BBC Scotland news website at [email protected]
If you submit an image, you do so in accordance with the BBC’s Terms and Conditions.
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.