Driver arrested after M5 crash involving van and lorry near Weston-super-Mare

A driver has been arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs following a crash between a van and a lorry[1] which left the M5 motorway blocked this morning, Monday, September 8. The driver, who was hospitalised after the collision, is also suspected of being involved in dealing drugs. The incident was reported at around 6.30am on Monday morning, with traffic monitoring site, Inrix, posting: "M5 southbound partially blocked, slow traffic due to accident from J20 B3133 Ettlingen Way (Clevedon) to J21 A370 (Weston-super-Mare)."

Traffic was left queueing[2] for around eight miles on the southbound carriageway of the motorway. Emergency services attended the scene, and the crash had cleared by 9.45am. However, a spokesperson for Avon and Somerset Police has now said: "We were called to a two-vehicle collision between a van and a lorry on the M5 southbound between junction 20 (Clevedon) and 21 (Weston-super-Mare) at around 6.30am today (Monday 8 September).

"A man, in his early 50s, was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs, and on suspicion of possession with intent to supply drugs, and was taken to hospital for treatment. "Any witnesses to the collision or the moments leading up to it are asked to call police on 101 quoting reference number 5225252850, or complete our online appeals form." Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT) added: "We were called at 06:37hrs on Monday 08 September to a road traffic collision near Weston-Super-Mare.

"We sent one double-crewed land ambulance, an operations officer, and the hazardous area response team to the scene.

We and conveyed one patient by land ambulance to Weston General Hospital."

References

1. ^ driving under the influence of drugs following a crash between a van and a lorry (www.somersetlive.co.uk)
2. ^ Traffic was left queueing (www.somersetlive.co.uk)