Man killed in M5 crash between lorry and pedestrian in West Country
A man has died on the M5 in the West Country in an incident that closed a stretch of the motorway between Devon and Somerset. The incident involved a pedestrian and a lorry on the northbound motorway between Tiverton and Wellington at around 5.30am on Wednesday (September 6).
The man was confirmed dead at the scene[1] and his next of kin have been informed, Devon and Cornwall Police said. The northbound stretch of the motorway remained closed at 11.45am but the southbound has reopened.
Long delays have been reported with traffic diverting on to local roads adding to rush-hour congestion. Roads in Wellington in Somerset have been affected as drivers find ways to avoid the closure.
Police 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.”
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.”
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References
- ^ dead at the scene (www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk)
- ^ Motorway closure after police incident in West Country (www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk)
- ^ our newsletter (www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk)