The crash occurred close to Junction 25 of the M5, northbound near Taunton, Somerset at 20:30 GMT last night (Friday 4th Nov 2011). With 7 Lorries and some 20 light vehicles involved in the crash the cause is still not clear, but there had been reports of fog and heavy rain in the area. The Highways Agency are not expecting to reopen the road until 21:00 tonight. The M5 is currently shut northbound between junctions 25 and 24, and southbound between junctions 23 and 25. Some drivers reported delays of up to five-and-a-half hours and motorists have been urged to avoid the area.
Jeremy Browne, MP for Taunton Dean, has said of the "horrendous accident" that "There has not been a crash on this scale for many years and the implications of it will be life-changing for many people." With reports of 10 people having sustained "life changing" injuries a spokesperson for Musgrove Park Hospital, Taunton, said they are treating 16 casualties with "a range of trauma injuries". Jo Cubbon, chief executive of the hospital said: "Our thoughts are with everyone affected by this tragedy." adding "I would like to pay tribute to the staff at Musgrove and all our emergency services partners who have responded with the utmost professionalism in these difficult circumstances."
Assistant Chief Constable Anthony Bangham, of Avon and Somerset Police reports that "Most vehicles were well alight and most continued to burn for a considerable time. This made it very difficult to search the vehicles. Some of them have been burned to the ground." The "challenging" incident is not yet over as vehicles are still smouldering and there is a vast amount of debris to cleared.
People passing the crash scene reported seeing Lorries on fire and Injured people lying in the central reservation and they could feel an "intense heat" from the flames. Others said they could see a number of explosions which they believed to be petrol tanks exploding and a huge "billowing tower of smoke" rising from the scene. Bev Davis, a local horse owner, said "There was this horrific sound of a horn. The horn was just permanent" and she could not see the incident which was in front of her as "flames and smoke were smothering everything".
This tragic accident will leave people in 'shock' and many trying to piece their lives back together. Our thoughts are with those affected by and involved with this devastating incident. Avon and Somerset Police have released a helpline number for people concerned about relatives: 0800 092 0410.
News article written by Michelle
