Two adults and one child are killed in BMW crash on M5 as another child fights for life in hospital
Published: 09:06, 31 May 2025 | Updated: 11:07, 31 May 2025
Two adults and a teenager have died following a single-vehicle collision on the M5 in south Gloucestershire on Friday evening, while another remains in a serious condition.
Avon and Somerset Police said that the white BMW left the motorway on the northbound carriageway between Falfield, near Bristol, and the Michaelwood services.
Two adults in their 40s and a teenage child died in the smash while another child remains in a critical condition after suffering serious injuries.
The M5, a key route which connects the Midlands with the South West, remains closed in both directions between junctions 14 (Thornbury) and 13 (Stroud).
Inspector Mark Vicary, of Avon and Somerset's roads policing unit, said: 'Our thoughts first and foremost are with the child in hospital and loved ones who have received the most awful news overnight.
'A specially-trained officer will provide them with support at this difficult time.'
The M5, a key route which connects the Midlands with the South West, remains closed in both directions between junctions 14 and 13 (Stroud)
He added: 'Emergency services have worked throughout the night at what has proved to be a very complex scene. They have worked diligently and professionally to try to save life in the most tragic of circumstances.
'It has been necessary to keep the road closures in place at this time to enable further collision investigation work during daylight hours. Vehicle recovery work still needs to be completed and National Highways will need to assess the carriageway and make any necessary repairs before it will be safe to reopen the motorway.
'As a result, the M5 remains closed this morning and we estimate it will need to stay shut in both directions for the next few hours, however we are doing all we can to reopen it as soon as possible.
'We appreciate this closure is causing delays and disruption to the public, particularly at the end of the half-term break.
But given the severity of this distressing incident, we hope the public can understand the reasons why this is necessary and ask them to consider alternative travel plans.'
National Highways have said that delays are building on approach of the closures of at least 60 minutes northbound and 45 minutes southbound.
They said diversion routes are in operation and warned drivers to plan ahead of their journey.
In a second road tragedy, a man has died after a car allegedly hit him while he was stood away from his van on the hard shoulder of the M1.
A silver Vauxhall van and a silver Chevrolet were on the southbound hard shoulder when they were reportedly involved in a collision with a silver Saab, Hertfordshire Police said.
The van driver, a man in his 20s, was stood outside his vehicle and died at the scene.
A 58-year-old man from Luton was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving, driving while unfit through drink or drugs, and failing to stop at the scene of a collision.
He remains in custody.
Detective Sergeant Ben Heath, from the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said: 'Our thoughts are with the man's loved ones at this difficult time.
'Our enquiries are continuing, and I am appealing for anyone with information to please come forward.'
References
- ^ IWAN STONE (www.dailymail.co.uk)