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M5 traffic: Crash closes motorway near Bristol M5 traffic: Motorway partially reopens after crash near Bristol
(about 2 hours later)
The back of the tipper was wedged on to an overhead gantry on the M5The 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 has partially reopened 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. The M5 near Bristol closed for nine hours when the vehicle crashed into the overhead structure 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 bed of the tipper became stuck at 08:20GMT forcing the motorway to 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. The northbound carriageway reopened at 17:20 and the southbound carriageway was expected to reopen before Friday.
The closed section of motorway is not expected to reopen before Friday. No-one was hurt but the tipper was not removed from the gantry until noon, and extensive damage was caused to the electronics and signage.
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. Electrical cables were severed and hydraulic fluid also spilled on to the carriageway, National Highways said.
"A police investigation will take place to establish what happened," he said. It said the carriageway had reopened following the removal of all gantry fittings and signage and a further safety inspection.
Truck company GTI Transport declined to comment on the incident. The M5 was closed for hours in both directions
The M5 has been shut in both directions Chris Leadbeater, operations manager at National Highways, said it was likely the tipper body had lifted while the vehicle was moving on the motorway, causing it to collide with the gantry.
There is queueing traffic from J17 A4018 (Cribbs Causeway) to J18 M49. Avon and Somerset Police is appealing for witnesses to come forward.
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. Anyone who saw the vehicle just before impact is also asked to contact the police force.
The lorry joined the M5 at J17, police said.
Investigators said any relevant dashcam from drivers in the area showing the lorry would be "gratefully received".
Drivers faced delays of up to an hour after the collision.
Police officers started issuing tickets to motorists caught using their phones while driving past the scene of the crash, some of whom were taking photos.
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
Truck company GTI Transport has declined to comment on the crash.
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 Officers started to issue tickets to drivers seen using their phones as they drove past the scene of the crash
Drivers are being delayed by more than a hour due to the closure. National Highways said the southbound carriageway was expected to reopen later on Thursday following the completion of emergency resurfacing.
Emergency services, including Avon and Somerset Police, are in attendance and National Highways traffic officers are also on scene assisting with traffic management. Until then, southbound traffic will continue to be diverted via the M4 westbound to the M49 to re-join the M5 at J18.
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
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.
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 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
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.
"In the meantime, we advise people to add a little extra time for their journeys, and to consider alternative routes where they can."
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