A MAN has been pronounced dead after a serious collision on the M5 in Somerset.
Avon and Somerset Police have confirmed that the individual died after two vehicles collided between Junction 24 near Bridgwater and Junction 25 at Taunton on Tuesday, October 13.
The fatality happened after police enforced a rolling road block at 1.12pm due to debris on the northbound carriageway.
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Police have notified the man’s family, and they are being offered the support of a specialist family liaison officer.
Man dies after M5 incident between Taunton and Bridgwater
The M5 incident led to a huge emergency services response, with police initially confirming that an air ambulance was attempting to land on the closed carriageway to take injured people to nearby hospitals.
Emergency services initially confirmed that two people were taken to hospitals in Bristol and Taunton due to the crash.
M5 motorists left their vehicles after emergency services responded to an incident on the motorway in Somerset. (Image: Abi Sumner)
A spokesperson for the South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT) said: “We were called at 13:15hrs on Tuesday 13 October to an incident near Taunton.
“We sent two double crewed ambulances, an air ambulance, an operations officer, and the hazardous area response team to the scene. We conveyed one patient by land ambulance to Musgrove Park Hospital and another patient by land ambulance to Southmead Hospital.”
Police are now appealing for witnesses who may have any information to help with officers’ ongoing investigation.
If you can help, complete the police online appeals form or call 101 and give the call handler the following reference number 5226336391.
A spokesperson for Avon and Somerset Police said: “Officers are appealing for witnesses following a fatal collision on the M5 yesterday afternoon (Tuesday 13 October).
“A rolling road block was put in place at 1.12pm due to debris on the northbound carriageway between junction 25 (Taunton) and junction 24 (Bridgwater South). This caused traffic to slow.
“A two-vehicle collision occurred shortly after at the rear of the rolling road block and sadly, despite efforts of emergency personnel, a man died.
“The motorway was closed in both directions during the initial emergency response and the southbound was opened within a few hours. The northbound remained closed and diversions in place until around midnight, when it was reopened.
“The work of our Serious Collision Investigation Team is important to ensure forensic evidence is gathered and photos and videos of the scene are secured in order to allow an in-depth investigation to take place.
“We would like to thank motorists for their patience and understanding.”
The M5 Motorway was shut from 1pm until just after 12am the next day (October 14). Parts of the southbound carriageway reopened first while police continued their investigation at the scene on the northbound side.