Man killed on M5 after crash involving pedestrian and lorry

A man has died at the scene of a crash on the M5, police have confirmed. Emergency services were called out to the incident at around 5.30am this morning, with a road closure set up between junctions 26 and 27 on both sides of the motorway on the Somerset-Devon border.

Devon and Cornwall Police said the crash involved a male pedestrian and a Heavy Goods Vehicle. The pedestrian was pronounced dead at the scene.

A spokesperson for the force said the man's next of kin has been informed of the death. The Exeter-bound side of the M5 has reopened, but the Bristol-bound carriageway remains shut as investigation work continues.

Police said in a statement: "Police were called at 5.30am today, Wednesday, September 6, to the M5 near Tiverton following reports of a collision involving an HGV and a pedestrian.

"The male pedestrian was confirmed deceased at the scene. His next of kin have been informed.

"The M5 southbound carriageway has been reopened but the northbound carriageway will remain closed into the afternoon. Highways England have put diversions in place and traffic stuck within the closures will be assisted to move when possible."

Long delays of around 45 minutes were reported in both directions, and there are still reports of three miles of congestion in the area. Traffic was stuck within the closure for several hours, before being released sometime before 10am.

A spokesperson for the South Western Ambulance Service NHS^[2] Foundation Trust (SWASFT) said: "We were called at 05.30hrs to a road traffic collision near Wellington and we sent a double-crewed land ambulance and an operations officer."

References

1. ^{^} Bristol Wilko store closing as troubled retailer reveals first set of 52 axed shops (www.bristolpost.co.uk)
2. ^{^} NHS (www.bristolpost.co.uk)