Girl, 17, killed in horror crash on M5 after getting out of police car
A 17 year old girl has tragically lost her life in a devastating incident on the M5 motorway, after being previously detained by police. Avon and Somerset Police have been compelled to refer the case to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) due to earlier contact with the victim.
The IOPC confirmed that the girl had been in police custody prior to the fatal event. Initial accounts indicate she was hit by a vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene of the accident, which occurred at around 11pm last night. The tragedy prompted the closure of both carriageways of the key south-western route between Junction 24 for Bridgwater and Junction 25 for Taunton.
Officers sealed off the vicinity to facilitate a examine the crash site, reports the Mirror[1].
As of this morning, the road remains shut, with Travel Somerset issuing a warning on Twitter about major traffic congestion in the area: "Major traffic build-up around #M5 corridor this morning due to M5 being closed both ways. Please plan ahead, expect significant congestion. We're not expecting the M5 to reopen until lunchtime."
Following the incident, National Highways South West provided an update stating: "Traffic caught within the closure of the #M5 north between J25 (#Taunton) and J24 (#Bridgwater) is being turned around from the back of the queue. Correction to our previous update, south traffic is not being turned yet. But will in due course. Thanks for your patience."
The IOPC has issued a statement confirming their investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
A spokesperson stated: "We have started an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of a 17-year-old girl who was struck by a vehicle on the M5 near Taunton last night.
"We were advised by Avon and Somerset Police that the girl was being transported to custody in a police vehicle and had got out of the vehicle shortly before the collision. We sent our investigators to the police post incident procedure to begin gathering evidence. Our sympathies are with the girl's loved ones and everyone affected by her death."
Avon and Somerset Police confirmed that the victim's next of kin have been informed and are receiving support from a specially-trained officer. No other injuries were reported in the incident.
Witnesses or anyone with dashcam footage are urged to call 101, quoting log number 1170 of 11 November. This tragic incident follows another fatal crash on the M6 motorway, where a lorry driver lost his life after his HGV overturned, leading to road closures.
Lancashire Police are appealing for witnesses following the serious collision on the M6 last Wednesday, where the HGV veered into the opposite carriageway, colliding with several vehicles.
The driver of the HGV, a man in his 50s, was sadly declared dead at the scene, according to police. The drivers of a Ford Transit and a Suzuki Swift, both in their 40s, sustained serious injuries and were immediately taken to hospital.
Three other people suffered minor injuries in the crash that involved a total of 10 vehicles.
References
- ^ the Mirror (www.mirror.co.uk)