M5 closure traps drivers in ‘six-hour’ standstill with no food or water
An exhausted driver has only just escaped the M5 in Somerset after its closure[1] left him trapped in his car for hours without food or drink.
The fed-up motorist is among many who hit a wall of traffic after a tanker and a car crashed this morning (Tuesday, May 5)[2] near Burnham-on-Sea.
Avon and Somerset Police[3] confirmed there were no serious injuries, but there was a significant diesel spillage after the tanker jack-knifed and crashed into a barrier. Advertisement Advertisement
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National Highways teams have been working to remove a 32,000-litre load from the damaged tanker, warning: "We expect the road to remain closed throughout this afternoon and through the evening peak travel period."
Although a diversion is in place[4], northbound drivers already caught within the affected stretch have reported being at a near-standstill for hours.
A motorist who asked only to be named as Gavin told SomersetLive he was travelling to collect his wife, Sue, who had spent the weekend away in Somerset. Advertisement
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Gavin said he hit the monster queues on the motorway at around 10.10am this morning and spent the day stuck in standstill traffic.
He said: "I've been here all day and I've not seen anyone, no emergency services or Highways, come up or down [the motorway].
"People were getting out of their cars to stretch their legs, it's been hot sat in the sun today, and people have been stuck with young children in the car.
"People who need medication have just been left all day, there has been no offer of water or anything.
"I think they [Highways] should have had things in place to accommodate drivers, it's quite annoying."
Crashed tanker on M5 Southbound -Credit:@framedbyfarrington
He added: "There was miles and miles of traffic behind me.
Thousands of people have been in traffic all day and there's been nothing to help." Advertisement Advertisement
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Gavin added that he was speaking to a lorry driver who had been stuck for "easily 10-11 hours" in the traffic.
After hours and hours moving nowhere fast, a drained Gavin made it off the motorway. He said it took "six-and-a-half hours to drive six miles".
Other drivers have also said they've been stuck for most of today in the congestion.
One motorist, posting on Somerset Live's M5 traffic group on Facebook[5], described the motorway at Burnham-on-Sea as "a car park".
He noted heavy traffic on the diversion routes too, adding: "It's a mess out there."
Another person said: "We have just driven up and the tanker is still not loaded yet. Basically southbound is a lorry car park." Advertisement
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Someone else said it took eight-and-a-half hours to get from Clevedon to Highbridge, which is usually a 25-minute drive, according to traffic maps.
Another person said: "I hope emergency services are providing water at least.
It's been quite a warm day to be stuck inside a metal box."
The M5 remains closed between junction 22 Burnham-on-Sea and junction 23 Bridgwater north ahead of rush hour this evening.
National Highways has warned there are five-hour delays and 14 miles on congestion, as of 5pm.
It added that the road is expected to remain closed throughout the peak travel period this evening.
Follow the latest updates on the closure via our live blog here.[6]
References
- ^ its closure (www.somersetlive.co.uk)
- ^ after a tanker and a car crashed this morning (Tuesday, May 5) (www.somersetlive.co.uk)
- ^ Avon and Somerset Police (www.somersetlive.co.uk)
- ^ a diversion is in place (www.somersetlive.co.uk)
- ^ Somerset Live's M5 traffic group on Facebook (www.facebook.com)
- ^ via our live blog here. (www.somersetlive.co.uk)