Man killed in M49 crash as arrest made after fatal incident closes motorway for seven hours
A man has been killed in a collision on the M49 near Bristol[1] on Tuesday morning (October 3). Avon and Somerset Police said the fatal incident involved a van and the driver of a broken down vehicle.
One man has been arrested following the collision at around 5.45am on the motorway which links the M4 and the M5. The road remained closed in both directions for more than seven hours with emergency services at the scene.
Police said the man who died was in his 60s and he was pronounced dead at the scene. An appeal for witnesses has been made.
The collision[4] forced the closure of the motorway until around 1.25pm when the southbound carriageway reopened. Northbound was kept shut for further collision investigation work.
Motorists were caught in delays of up to an hour at the height of the morning rush-hour. A diversion via the M4 and the M5 has been in place.
Avon and Somerset Police[5] said: "We are appealing for witnesses and dashcam footage after a man sadly died on the M49 this morning (Tuesday 3 October). Officers were called to a report of a collision involving a van and the driver of a broken-down vehicle on the M49 at around 5.45am.
"Sadly one person, a man in his 60s, was pronounced dead at the scene. Our thoughts are with the man’s family during this difficult time and they will be offered support by a specially trained family liaison officer.
"The northbound carriageway remains closed between the M4 Junction 22 and M5 Junction 18A and a diversion via the M4 is in place. The southbound has now reopened. One man has been arrested in connection with the incident and is in custody.
"We are seeking any witnesses and anyone with dashcam footage to aid in our enquiries."
Updates on the fatal incident in our blog[6].
References
- ^ M49 near Bristol (www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk)
- ^ Fatal crash closes motorway for more than seven hours (www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk)
- ^ Train strikes in Gloucestershire set to cause commuter chaos (www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk)
- ^ collision (www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk)
- ^ Avon and Somerset Police (www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk)
- ^ our blog (www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk)