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| M5 traffic: Motorway closed after crash near Bristol | M5 traffic: Motorway closed after crash near Bristol |
| (31 minutes later) | |
| The back of the tipper was wedged on to an overhead gantry on the M5 | The back of the tipper was wedged on to an overhead gantry on the M5 |
| A motorway is closed after a tipper truck hit an overhead gantry. | A motorway is closed after a tipper truck hit an overhead gantry. |
| Police were called to the M5, near Bristol, at 08:20 GMT, after the tipper crashed into the gantry sign in lane one of the southbound carriageway. | Police were called to the M5, near Bristol, at 08:20 GMT, after the tipper crashed into the gantry sign in lane one of the southbound carriageway. |
| The back of the tipper was resting against the gantry and the motorway is shut in both directions between J17 for Bristol Airport and J18 for Avonmouth. | The back of the tipper was resting against the gantry and the motorway is shut in both directions between J17 for Bristol Airport and J18 for Avonmouth. |
| There have been no reported injuries and the tipper was removed from the gantry around noon. | There have been no reported injuries and the tipper was removed from the gantry around noon. |
| Chris Leadbeater, operations manager at National Highways, said it was likely the tipper body lifted while the vehicle was moving along the motorway, causing it to collide with the gantry. | |
| "A police investigation will take place to establish what happened," he said. | |
| The M5 has been shut in both directions | The M5 has been shut in both directions |
| There is queueing traffic from J17 A4018 (Cribbs Causeway) to J18 M49. | There is queueing traffic from J17 A4018 (Cribbs Causeway) to J18 M49. |
| As a result of the crash, signs and electrical cables on the gantry have been damaged, while hydraulic fluid has also spilled on to the carriageway. | As a result of the crash, signs and electrical cables on the gantry have been damaged, while hydraulic fluid has also spilled on to the carriageway. |
| Delivery driver Carar Tyer was driving down the M5 at the time. | Delivery driver Carar Tyer was driving down the M5 at the time. |
| "It was just carnage, it was lucky there were no casualties as the motorway was very busy," Ms Tyer said. | "It was just carnage, it was lucky there were no casualties as the motorway was very busy," Ms Tyer said. |
| "I've never seen anything like it," she added. | "I've never seen anything like it," she added. |
| The back of the tipper has been removed from the gantry | The back of the tipper has been removed from the gantry |
| Drivers are being delayed by more than a hour due to the closure. | Drivers are being delayed by more than a hour due to the closure. |
| Emergency services, including Avon and Somerset Police, are in attendance and National Highways traffic officers are also on scene assisting with traffic management. | Emergency services, including Avon and Somerset Police, are in attendance and National Highways traffic officers are also on scene assisting with traffic management. |
| Police officers have issued tickets to drivers who were caught using their phones while driving past the scene of the crash. | Police officers have issued tickets to drivers who were caught using their phones while driving past the scene of the crash. |
| On scene of an RTC #M5 Bristol officers issued tickets to 8 drivers who thought it ok to use their phone while driving past. 1 driver, already on 9 points is likely to be disqualified now as taking a photo of the collision was more important than continuing their journey safely. pic.twitter.com/s1ZXufLEE7 | On scene of an RTC #M5 Bristol officers issued tickets to 8 drivers who thought it ok to use their phone while driving past. 1 driver, already on 9 points is likely to be disqualified now as taking a photo of the collision was more important than continuing their journey safely. pic.twitter.com/s1ZXufLEE7 |
| At the scene, Scott Ellis, BBC Points West | At the scene, Scott Ellis, BBC Points West |
| The lorry bed remains in a very precarious position as it is directly below one of the speed limit signs, a handful of which are hanging off the gantry over the M5. | The lorry bed remains in a very precarious position as it is directly below one of the speed limit signs, a handful of which are hanging off the gantry over the M5. |
| There is a large police presence and I imagine it will take many, many hours before the situation is resolved. | There is a large police presence and I imagine it will take many, many hours before the situation is resolved. |
| The bed is no longer attached to the lorry but we can see a cab just a bit further down on the southbound side that we assume is from the same vehicle which hit the gantry with the bed raised. | The bed is no longer attached to the lorry but we can see a cab just a bit further down on the southbound side that we assume is from the same vehicle which hit the gantry with the bed raised. |
| The traffic is, of course, moving very slowly, particularly on the northbound section where the speed limit signs have been dislodged and are hanging over part of the carriageway. | The traffic is, of course, moving very slowly, particularly on the northbound section where the speed limit signs have been dislodged and are hanging over part of the carriageway. |
| Avon and Somerset Police are at the scene of the crash | Avon and Somerset Police are at the scene of the crash |
| Ray Morwood from National Highways said: "The M5 has been closed to protect the travelling public and we're working as quickly as we can to assess the gantry damage and make safe the signage and fittings. | Ray Morwood from National Highways said: "The M5 has been closed to protect the travelling public and we're working as quickly as we can to assess the gantry damage and make safe the signage and fittings. |
| "The incident has occurred on a busy section of the M5, we are working with our police partners, and we appreciate this will cause significant delays to people's journeys. | "The incident has occurred on a busy section of the M5, we are working with our police partners, and we appreciate this will cause significant delays to people's journeys. |
| "In the meantime, we advise people to add a little extra time for their journeys, and to consider alternative routes where they can." | "In the meantime, we advise people to add a little extra time for their journeys, and to consider alternative routes where they can." |
| Follow BBC West on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: bristol@bbc.co.uk | Follow BBC West on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: bristol@bbc.co.uk |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| M5 motorway | M5 motorway |
| Avon and Somerset Constabulary | Avon and Somerset Constabulary |