M5 drivers ‘illegally using hard shoulder’ after lorry crash spills diesel

A diesel spill from the lorry has caused major disruption

Phoebe Hobbs 17:16, 29 Mar 2026

Traffic late this afternoon on the M5 (Sunday, March 29).(Image: Highways England)

People are reportedly driving on the hard shoulder of the M5 this afternoon after a lorry crash caused a diesel spill[1] (Sunday, March 29) which shut the motorway.

A motorist told GloucestershireLive that she saw people driving "illegally" to get around massive queues after a lorry crashed into a central reservation between junctions 13 at Stroud and 14 this afternoon.

The motorway is shut northbound and one lane southbound is also closed.

National Highways has shared the diversion routes in place[2].

She said: "People are driving down the hard shoulder illegally to get through quicker, has been reported to police."

The crash, which was first reported just before 1.50pm, caused a large spill of diesel. All northbound traffic is currently being held.

National Highways said: "The M5 in Gloucestershire is closed northbound between J14 (Falfield) and J13 (Stroud) due to collision involving a an HGV which has struck the central reservation at approximately 13:40 this afternoon.

The vehicle's diesel tank has been damaged and has ruptured spilling diesel across all lanes of the carriageway.

"Lane 3 of (3) is also closed on the southbound carriageway due to barrier damage and debris....Emergency services including Gloucestershire Police are in attendance.

"National Highways traffic officers are also on scene providing assistance with traffic management with specialist contactors en route to assist with the clean-up of the diesel."

The situation is ongoing.

For more details, see our live blog.[3]

References

1. ^ after a lorry crash caused a diesel spill (www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk)
2. ^ shared the diversion routes in place (www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk)
3. ^ live blog. (www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk)