Motorist in court after lorry trailer sticks on motorway gantry

A motorist has appeared in court after a lorry trailer became stuck on a busy motorway. Anthony Baker has denied dangerous driving following the incident on the M5.

During the incident, the tipper was stuck vertically against an overhead gantry on a motorway. Baker, 47, will face a trial after pleading not guilty to allegations relating to the incident that closed the M5 in both directions for several hours.

Images taken at the scene showed a large empty trailer that appeared to have smashed into the gantry. The tipper section was left upright and wedged against the road surface.

The incident happened on Thursday, March 2 on the southbound carriageway between Junction 17 at Cribbs Causeway and Junction 18 at Avonmouth just outside of Bristol. Nobody was injured in the crash, which left hydraulic fluid and severed electrical cables all over the motorway.

Baker, of Downend, South Glos, entered a formal not guilty plea at a hearing at Bristol Crown Court on Thursday. He will go on trial on June 17, next year.

He was released on unconditional bail by Judge Michael Cullum ahead of his next case management hearing at the same court on 24 May. Judge Cullum told him: “Your trial takes place on 17th June. You have to attend. You remain on unconditional bail – but it can go ahead without you.”