A multi-vehicle crash on the M5 last night resulted in hours of delays for motorists as queues built for over 6 miles. Three vehicles were involved in the collision, the fire service said.
The crash happened at around 4.57pm and multiple fire engines raced to the scene near Weston-super-Mare, alongside ambulance crews, police, and the Highways agency. The incident was cleared after over three hours.
A lorry driver and a tanker driver have been praised for their actions during the incident, stopping to shield the injured motorists before emergency services arrived on the scene. Here is what happened on the M5 last night.
READ MORE: M5 crash: HGV drivers stopped to protect injured motorists
Emergency services were called to the crash on the M5 southbound at junction 21 for Weston-super-Mare at 4.57pm. Avon Fire and Rescue Service said that they deployed crews from Clevedon to make the scene safe.
A lorry driver and a tanker driver saw the crash as it happened, and have been praised for parking their HGVs in a way that blocked the lanes where the vehicles were located in order to shield the occupants from the dangers of a live motorway. They stopped to help and provide information and dashcam footage to police.
One of the drivers was Josh Pring from Somerset who told Bristol Live: "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." (Read the full story here).
Three vehicles were involved in the crash, and lanes one and two were closed while emergency services responded. There were multiple casualties who were treated at the scene by the ambulance service.
All lanes reopened at around 8.10pm, but two lanes were again closed shortly after 9pm due to a lorry fire, and that was cleared by 9.50pm when all lanes finally reopened.
Avon Fire and Rescue Service said in a statement as the crash response was underway: "Crews from Clevedon were called at 16:57 to reports of a road traffic collision on the M5 southbound between junctions 20 and 21.
"On arrival, firefighters found a RTC involving three vehicles and are in the process of making those vehicles safe. Casualties at the scene are currently being treated by our ambulance colleagues.
"Police and Highways are also in attendance."
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