A stretch of the M5 motorway was brought to a standstill this afternoon (July 5) following a crash. All traffic was held just before 12pm after three vehicles collided - two lanes were also closed off while emergency services attended the scene, but were reopened just after 1pm.
The incident took place on the southbound carriageway between junctions 22 (Burnham-on-Sea) and 21 (Weston-super-Mare) and, as a result of the traffic disruption, queues stretched back as far as four miles. Police have confirmed that a car was reported to have been driven the wrong way along the road.
They added that, while it is believed there were no life-changing or life-threatening injuries, one woman was taken to hospital. In a statement just after 1pm, Avon and Somerset Police said: "We were called today (Tuesday 5 July) at 11.50am following reports of a collision on the M5 between junction 22 (Burnham-on-Sea) and junction 21 (Weston-super-Mare).
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"A car was reported to be travelling northbound up the southbound carriageway between the junctions and there was a collision between three vehicles. Initial assessments have been carried out and we believe there are no life-threatening or life-changing injuries.
"One woman has been taken to hospital.
"Traffic was held while emergency services attended the scene and debris cleared. Lane three has now been reopened and it is hoped the other lanes will be reopened shortly."
According to traffic reporting site Inrix, all lanes were re-opened, though traffic was still queueing as a result of the disruption. Follow live updates on this incident here.
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