M5 delays hit over five hours crash involving tanker and car

A stretch of the M5 in Somerset has reopened, 16 hours after a tanker and car crashed. The M5 was closed southbound between junction 22 Burnham-on-Sea and junction 23 Bridgwater North after the crash during the early hours of this morning (Tuesday, May 5). National Highways reported delays of at least five hours in the area, although drivers stuck say they have been there much longer.

It said: "The M5 in Somerset is closed southbound between J22 Edithmead Interchange (Highbridge, Burnham-on-Sea A38) and J23 Dunball Interchange (Bridgwater A38; Glastonbury, Wells A39) due to a serious collision involving a HGV (a fuel tanker) and a car. "A large diesel spill and nearside barrier damage has been confirmed as a result. Traffic caught within the closure has been released.

"There are currently 5 hour delay, with 14 miles of congestion on the approach to J22. There is additional long delays on the diversion route detailed below. Traffic monitoring site Inrix reported a fuel spillage on the road, causing traffic to queue either side of the closure.

All emergency services[1] were on the motorway dealing with the incident. At 7.15pm National Highways said the road reopened, but there were two-hour delays and eight miles of congestion. Around 8.45pm, traffic on the motorway returned to normal.

Scroll down for all the updates from today.

References

1. ^ emergency services (www.somersetlive.co.uk)