A fatal accident and a separate collision resulting in serious injuries have occurred on the M5 southbound near Willand, Devon, according to Devon and Cornwall Police.
The first incident, involving three vehicles, took place near Junction 28 around 9:50 pm, leaving a driver in his 60s seriously injured. Subsequently, a second collision occurred at 11:10 pm, resulting in the death of another driver at the scene.
A man has been taken into custody in connection with the second crash, which occurred near the site of the initial collision.
The deceased driver, a man in his 30s from Plymouth, was operating a Toyota at the time of the accident. His family has been notified.
Authorities are requesting any eyewitnesses or individuals with dashcam footage of either incident to come forward to aid in the investigations.
Superintendent Joe Mathews, overseeing roads policing, expressed condolences for those affected by the accidents and highlighted the challenging circumstances faced by emergency responders and the public stuck in traffic for hours.
As a result of the crashes, traffic on the M5 in Devon has come to a standstill, with closures in place during ongoing investigations. National Highways mentioned that a special team will be cutting the central reservation barrier to alleviate congestion caused by the first collision.
Drivers are advised to plan alternative routes and expect delays due to the road closures, while Devon and Cornwall Police are urging cooperation from the public to assist in the probe by providing any relevant information or footage.
In a related incident on the A12 in Essex, motorists experienced prolonged delays following a serious crash, with traffic management efforts led by National Highways contractors.
Local roads in mid Devon are experiencing heavy traffic flow as a result of the M5 closure, particularly affecting villages like Willand and Sampford Peverell. Although diversions are in place, drivers are advised to stay updated on the situation via National Highways channels.
The exact number of vehicles involved in each crash remains unclear, but traffic congestion on both sides of the motorway is increasing. Road users are directed to follow diversion signs provided by National Highways to navigate around the closures.
