M5 chaos explained – Everything you need to know after pile-up and coach crash

The motorway ground to a standstill twice within a few hours

12:10, 28 Nov 2025

Everything you need to know after chaos on the M5 in the South West:

Coach crashed with 35 passengers on board

• A crash involving a coach and a car[1] caused chaos on the M5 southbound in Somerset on Thursday evening. The crash happened at 8pm between Junctions 26 (Wellington) and 27 (Tiverton) and resulted in a complete standstill for motorists

• The crash involved a coach carrying around 35 passengers[2] who were all checked by emergency services at the scene. Fortunately, none of the bus passengers suffered any injuries

• Emergency services, including crews from Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue[3], were quickly deployed to the scene.

  Firefighters released one person who was trapped inside the car involved in the collision, but police confirmed there were no reports of any serious injuries

• Witnesses described the traffic as "chaotic," with the motorway effectively gridlocked south of the Wellington junction[4] in an area already slowed by roadworks. Drivers were reportedly seen getting out of their vehicles to move traffic cones within the roadworks area to assist the access of emergency vehicles

• The response required the attendance of police, ambulance, and Highways crews[5], with two fire engines from Wellington and one from Taunton being sent out

• Although the collision occurred in the Avon and Somerset policing area, it was Devon and Cornwall Police that led the response and confirmed an arrest had been made

• The driver of the van, a 29-year-old man, was arrested on suspicion of driving over the legal limit for alcohol and driving while unfit through drink. He has since been released under investigation

• The crash blocked two of three lanes[6] on the motorway's southbound carriageway for several hours, with the motorway fully reopening at 10.30pm

READ THE FULL STORY: 'Chaos' M5 crash involved bus with 35 passengers on board[7]

Six-vehicle pile-up near Bristol

• Another major traffic incident[8] occurred on the M5 motorway near Bristol, causing severe delays during the Thursday evening rush hour.

  The crash involved six vehicles and was first reported to authorities at approximately 5.40pm

• The collision took place on the M5 southbound carriageway[9], between Junction 19 for Portishead and Junction 20 for Clevedon. This section of the motorway was completely closed initially to allow emergency services to access the scene

• Emergency services, including Avon and Somerset Police[10] and ambulance crews, quickly arrived to manage the situation. Police confirmed that despite the number of vehicles involved, no serious injuries were reported

• Drivers faced a complete standstill[11], leading to substantial congestion stretching for miles.

  At its peak, National Highways warned motorists of delays in excess of 45 minutes above normal travel times

• The incident was initially reported by National Highways as a four-car collision, but this was later updated via police[12] to confirm a six-vehicle crash

READ THE FULL STORY: M5 traffic standstill after six-vehicle crash near Bristol[13]

References

1. ^ coach and a car (www.somersetlive.co.uk)
2. ^ coach carrying around 35 passengers (www.somersetlive.co.uk)
3. ^ Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue (www.somersetlive.co.uk)
4. ^ gridlocked south of the Wellington junction (www.somersetlive.co.uk)
5. ^ ambulance, and Highways crews (www.somersetlive.co.uk)
6. ^ blocked two of three lanes (www.somersetlive.co.uk)
7. ^ 'Chaos' M5 crash involved bus with 35 passengers on board (www.somersetlive.co.uk)
8. ^ traffic incident (www.bristolpost.co.uk)
9. ^ M5 southbound carriageway (www.bristolpost.co.uk)
10. ^ Avon and Somerset Police (www.bristolpost.co.uk)
11. ^ complete standstill (www.bristolpost.co.uk)
12. ^ police (www.bristolpost.co.uk)
13. ^ M5 traffic standstill after six-vehicle crash near Bristol (www.bristolpost.co.uk)