M5 danger as drivers ‘swerve’ around luggage after roof rack disaster

Drivers were left having to dodge clothing and bags which ended up getting scattered over the M5 today (July 29). An apparent roof rack failure tossed items across the carriageway and forces motorists to "swerve" out of the way.

The items, including a sleeping bag, were all over the motorway between Exeter and Cullompton heading north. According to DevonLive ^[1], an eyewitness said it appeared as though the owners of the items sprawled across the road, had pulled over onto the hard shoulder.

The witness aid: “Cars slowed and swerved around the luggage. I wondered what it was at first. They were out of the car looking back at their stuff.

"I imagine Highways will have to close the road for a short while as it is a danger. It was over three different lanes too. I hope they weren’t going to the airport.”

Clothes and bags strewn across the busy M5 motorway (Image: DevonLive)

A rucksack lying on the motorway (Image: DevonLive)

There has been no confirmation of the M5 being closed in that area at the time. Traffic monitoring website Inrix reported one lane was closed on the M5 closer to Bristol from J15 to J14, but that “traffic is coping well” according to the site.

References

^{^} DevonLive (www.devonlive.com)
^{^} Crashed car 'parks' on BMW in idyllic West Country village (www.bristolpost.co.uk)