A lorry driver and a tanker driver have been praised for their actions following a multi-vehicle crash on the M5 this evening (Wednesday, March 23).
Two lanes of the motorway were closed and emergency services were on the scene for much of the evening on Wednesday, March 23 after the crash, which occurred at Junction 21 at Weston-super-Mare during evening rush hour.
The drivers of both the tanker and the lorry stopped to help, as well as to provide information and dashcam footage to the police. One of the men, who was driving the Jays/RT Keedwell lorry and witnessed part of the incident, was Josh Pring from Somerset.
Recap: M5 traffic after Weston-super-Mare crash involving three vehicles
He described how the events unfolded and how he reacted quickly to help protect those already injured. He told Bristol Live: "I was travelling back to our company yard in Highbridge, following the fuel tanker in lane two as lane one often slows down on approach to the Weston junction.
"I saw a plume of smoke or steam ahead and a car spinning across from lane one into two. When this happened the tanker in front of me stopped in lane two and I pulled across lanes one and two to protect against any other vehicles coming up those lanes and impacting those already injured.
"I did my best to comfort and aid those involved with several others who witnessed the crash, including the driver of the tanker, a car driver and a Red Cross first aider who happened to be passing. There was extensive damage to two of the vehicles involved but all drivers had got themselves out of their vehicles by the time I made it over to them.
"After that the emergency services took over and I stayed to provide contact information and give a statement as well as continue to protect everyone there until a proper road closure was in place."
Both Josh and the tanker driver have received an abundance of praise from members of a Facebook group dedicated to the M5. One comment read: "Well done to the truckers for instinctively using their vehicles to protect those involved in the crash."
Another said: "Well done to you for doing this. You prevented more accidents happening." While a third wrote: "I tried ringing your company to commend your actions, well done drive! Loads of respect."
And a third said: "Well done you HGV drivers making a RTA area as safe as possible." Others commenting simply said "bless you" or "thank you", adding that the drivers were "a credit" to their teams.
Josh said: "I don't feel the praise is warranted, I would like to think someone would do the same for me if I was involved in something like that and I did it to help those affected. I hope those involved are well and recover soon."
Avon Fire and Rescue Service said three vehicles were involved in the collision. South Western Ambulance Service and Avon and Somerset Police have been contacted for further details.
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