Man dies in M5 crash between lorry and pedestrian on Somerset border
A man has died at the scene of a crash on the M5 between Somerset and Devon, it has been confirmed. The collision, which closed the motorway between Tiverton and Wellington in the early hours of the morning, involved a pedestrian and a lorry.
Devon and Cornwall Police officers were called at 5.30am today (September 6) to reports of a crash involving an Heavy Goods Vehicle and a male pedestrian. The man was confirmed dead at the scene and police said his next of kin have been informed.
The motorway was closed in both directions at around 6am and remained closed through much of the morning while emergency services attended[1]. The southbound carriage has since reopened, but the northbound direction is expected to remain closed through the afternoon while police investigate the incident.
Police[3] said in a statement: “Police were called at 5.30am today, Wednesday, September 6, to the M5 near Tiverton following reports of a collision involving an HGV and a pedestrian.
“The male pedestrian was confirmed deceased at the scene. His next of kin have been informed.
“The M5 southbound carriageway has been reopened but the northbound carriageway will remain closed into the afternoon. Highways England have put diversions in place and traffic stuck within the closures will be assisted to move when possible.”
Long delays of around 45 minutes were reported in both directions, and there are still reports of three miles of congestion in the area. Traffic was stuck within the closure for several hours, before being released sometime before 10am.
A spokesperson for the South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT) said: “We were called at 05.30hrs to a road traffic collision near Wellington and we sent a double-crewed land ambulance and an operations officer.”
Follow our live blog for more details as delays continue.[4]
References
- ^ remained closed through much of the morning while emergency services attended (www.somersetlive.co.uk)
- ^ M5 diversions after incident closes motorway ‘for some time’ (www.somersetlive.co.uk)
- ^ Police (www.somersetlive.co.uk)
- ^ Follow our live blog for more details as delays continue. (www.somersetlive.co.uk)