Seven men have been taken to hospital following a multi-vehicle crash involving an unmarked police car that closed a stretch of Scotland’s busiest motorway.

Three of the men – including a police officer – are in a critical condition, while two others were seriously injured.

A police chief said two on-duty officers “put themselves in harm’s way” in the course of their work.

The collision occurred on the M8 in Glasgow, near the junction 13 Provan Interchange, at around 1.10pm on Wednesday.

Police Scotland said a Mercedes A45 collided with an unmarked Volvo S90 police car and a Mercedes CLS, which were on the hard shoulder of the eastbound carriageway.

The force said three men from the A45 fled after the crash, but the trio – aged 27, 33 and 39 – have since been traced.

Seven men, including two police officers, were taken by ambulance to the city’s Queen Elizabeth University Hospital and Glasgow Royal Infirmary.

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A 48-year-old police officer and two men, aged 39 and 43, are in a critical condition.

A 38-year-old officer and a 33-year-old man are in a serious condition.

Two men were treated for minor injuries. One, aged 27, has been arrested in connection with road traffic offences.

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Deputy Chief Constable Jane Connors said: “Our thoughts are very much with our two colleagues, one of whom has been critically injured, and the members of the public also critically injured in this incident.

“The two officers have put themselves in harm’s way carrying out their duties and we are immensely proud of the work they and colleagues do every day to keep communities safe.

“We will provide them and their families all the support they need at this difficult time.”

The eastbound carriageway was temporarily closed for investigation works but reopened at around 1.45am on Thursday.

Chief Superintendent Hilary Sloan, head of road policing at Police Scotland, said: “The investigation into this serious road crash is ongoing and I would urge anyone who has not already spoken to police to come forward with any information that may assist us.

“I would ask any drivers with dashcam to please check their footage and contact us if it holds information relevant to this crash.”

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