BREAKING - 'Lives Lost' In 26-Vehicle Motorway Pile-Up - Somerset, England

RobitTV

Several people are believed to have been killed and as many as 30 injured in a collision involving 26 vehicles on the M5 motorway in Somerset, England.

A police spokesman said: "There are reports of between 25 and 30 injuries, 10 are believed to be life changing and it is believed that people have lost their lives."

Some 20 light vehicles and six articulated lorries were involved in the smash on the motorway close to junction 25 near Taunton at around 8.30pm.

At least four people who were trapped have been cut free by firefighters.
Eyewitnesses have reported seeing burning vehicles and casualities and debris strewn across the road, one witness saw a number of explosions and black smoke.

FireFighters have said "it's the worst we've ever seen in our careers"

http://news.sky.com/home/uk-news/article/16103826

Blatter

So depressing reading stuff like this on a quiet Friday night.

RIP to those that lost there lives and I wish the others good recoveries.

Da Shins Kelly

Just heard this on the news. Sounds utterly horrific.

RIP to those who have died, and I really hope the rest of the survivors make it and recover.

westendgirlie

Just turned on sky news. Those poor people

psycho-hope

RIP to all those who died, had to turn the tv off, to upsetting to watch

RobitTV

Utterly tragic i send my deep condolences to every family who lost a friend or family member in this tragic and shocking incident. I Wish every single person involved in this awful crash will recover to their original self.

Just went on to the Sky News website and there's footage showing burning cars. ****.

sgb

I've driven on that road many times and know the area

RIP to all those that lost their lives and thoughts with the family's affected

Posting in AH at this time of night may result in some negative comments

pragmatic1

Terrible news.

Having said that, since when has AH become the news forum?

Stinicker

Only a matter of time before something similar happens here, considering the average numpty who takes to our Motorways with sheer ignorance and reckless abandon compared to the relatively well mannered English motorway users.

YouTookMyName

Jesus thats mad. Not too far from me.

RIP.

My name is URL

Fcuk.. just flicked over to Sky News there and it was showing a group of people frantically trying to free someone from a car which looked like it was about to ignite. A horrible scene

RobitTV

Just plain tragic, never seen a crash so large.

Duggy747

Hopefully, given the circumstances that it's minimal loss of life.

Terrible news

Just seeing the footage of a massive fire, has to be some poor folks caught inside that.

Alan b.

scary thing is, this isnt something thats uncommon.
there was one of these last year or the year before, and 2 big crashes only a year or two before that.

fran oconnor

Please god, i hope there is nobody trapped in them burning cars. This is so sad, RIP to those who have passed away..

cloneslad

Looks like a war zone.

LizT

Jesus Christ, shocking. RIP.

fran oconnor

Looks like one of the the trucks jackknifed at the back.

LizT

A number of people have been killed in a horrific crash on the M5 tonight.

There were a series of explosions after cars and lorries crashed on the motorway as at least 25 vehicles were involved in the carnage.

Some people are thought to have been burned to death as they were trapped in the cars in the accident which happened in foggy conditions.


The motorway between junctions 23 and 26 - an 18 mile section - was closed off in both directions and police said it was likely the main access to the Westcountry would remain shut for the next 24 hours.

At least 25 to 30 people have been hurt and police say 10 of those have suffered life changing injuries.

But Avon and Somerset police admitted a number of people have been killed in the crash.

At least 25 vehicles have been involved in the crash and some eye witnesses said they heard loud explosions which involved HGVs and possibly petrol tankers.

One witness said: ”The fog at the time was really bad. Headlights were bouncing back, you could not see a thing.”

Emergency crews from all over Somerset and Devon raced to the scene. Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service said that 20 cars and light vehicles were involved in the multiple crash along with six artic lorries.

Fifteen fire crews from across Devon and Somerset are at the scene, which has been described by witnesses as “horrific”.

Jason Sharp, who was at a nearby rugby club, said: “It was a horrific accident that we have just witnessed. There were a number of explosions and black smoke.

“It’s not something you expect to see on the motorway, it was more like a scene from Afghanistan.”

Jon Adair, who passed the incident on the other carriageway, described it as “the worst traffic accident I’ve ever seen”.

Twenty cars and six lorries were involved in the collision, which took place in wet and foggy conditions on Friday evening.

Four of the vehicles, including two lorries, were on fire with reports of motorists trapped in their vehicles.

Avon and Somerset Police chief inspector Paul Mogg said: “All emergency services are on the scene doing as much as they can to continue the rescue operation and to treat those who are injured.

“There are large tailbacks at present and we would urge all to avoid the area for the next 24 hours at least.”

The police added they expected the motorway between junction 23 and 26 to remain shut for the next 24 hours.



Read more: http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2011/11/04/m5-crash-motorway-deaths-as-26-vehicle-pile-up-closes-road-in-somerset-115875-23538838/#ixzz1cmgXMDFh

From the mirror

LizT

Sky News footage is upsetting. It's hard to see how anyone could walk away unscathed.

fran oconnor

Evaex wrote: »

That's why we leave adequate braking distances.

Reminds me of Kate Moyles who smashed into a fire brigade truck on the M7 in dense fog 4 years ago. She and other drivers continued travelling at 120kmp/h + on the morning in question even though visibility was less than a few meters.

I have to agree, and some people in this country are the worset at this, i do try to keep a good distance on the roads, but some pr!ck always pulls into the space i try to keep.

hondasam

Evaex wrote: »

That's why we should leave adequate braking distances, and only travel as fast as the distance within which we can clearly see and brake within.

Reminds me of Kate Moyles who smashed into a fire brigade truck on the M7 in dense fog 4 years ago. She and other drivers continued travelling at 120kmp/h + on the morning in question even though visibility was less than a few meters.

Let the girl rest in peace, she has no place in this thread.

hondasam

fran oconnor wrote: »

I have to agree, and some people in this country are the worset at this, i do try to keep a good distance on the roads, but some pr!ck always pulls into the space i try to keep.

Did not take long for ye to forget the tragedy in the UK and the reason this thread was started.
It's the reason these threads annoy me.

fran oconnor

hondasam wrote: »

Did not take long for ye to forget the tragedy in the UK and the reason this thread was started.
It's the reason these threads annoy me.

So are you saying that people keep a safe distance over here??.. What happend in the UK is a massive tragedy. I don't understand why you are pi..ing you're pants.

Evaex

hondasam wrote: »

Let the girl rest in peace, she has no place in this thread.

It's a similiar situation. Her parents called for warning signs to be placed on motorways warning of the dangers of travelling too fast in fog at her inquest.

Similiar conditions to this accident.

Heavy fog seems to be a condition drivers are inept at dealing with.

Temptamperu

If there was a god maybe this sort of crap wouldnt happen?

castletownman

Credit to the rapid response of the emergency services. Not meaning to diss Ireland's emergency services but I shudder to think how efficiently (or not) they would deal with a tragedy like this if, god forbid, it happened

LizT

Always sad to see a thread like this dragged off topic. And it only took 3 pages.:rolleyes:

Sky News are saying that at least 10 people have life changing injuries. Some people are saying that they could feel the heat on the other side of the carriageway, shows how big the fire is.

RobitTV

lizt wrote: »

Always sad to see a thread like this dragged off topic. And it only took 3 pages.:rolleyes:

Sky News are saying that at least 10 people have life changing injuries. Some people are saying that they could feel the heat on the other side of the carriageway, shows how big the fire is.

Have to agree, shame to see many off-topic and inappropriate comments.

The emergency service's in ireland must prepare for a large crash like this it's so easy to happen.

expectationlost

shouldn't they just change the speed limit in bad weather conditions then people wouldn't be allowed to be portrayed as blameless heros when the crash at high speed.

bb1234567

thats horrible, RIP all those killed and I hope all those injured recover quickly:( was this in ireland or england, and how did this all happen, and how 30 vehicles manage to plow into eachother to cause such a horrible thing?

LizT

bb1234567 wrote: »

thats horrible, RIP all those killed and I hope all those injured recover quickly:( was this in ireland or england, and how did this all happen, and how 30 vehicles manage to plow into eachother to cause such a horrible thing?

It's in the west of England. Obviously no one can say what happened at this early stage but apparently it was very foggy at the time of the accident.

westendgirlie

If you have nothing constructive to say, please, just show some respect!

My thoughts are with the families of those who were killed. I also pray for those injured.

Alan b.

expectationlost wrote: »

shouldn't they just change the speed limit in bad weather conditions then people wouldn't be allowed to be portrayed as blameless heros when the crash at high speed.

some countries do have that,
electronic signs display the speed limits and when bad conditions arrise, they change the speed limit on the road.
great idea to be honest.

Posy

I feel sorry for all those involved.

x in the city

RobitTV wrote: »

Several people are believed to have been killed and as many as 30 injured in a collision involving 26 vehicles on the M5 motorway in Somerset, England.

A police spokesman said: "There are reports of between 25 and 30 injuries, 10 are believed to be life changing and it is believed that people have lost their lives."

Some 20 light vehicles and six articulated lorries were involved in the smash on the motorway close to junction 25 near Taunton at around 8.30pm.

At least four people who were trapped have been cut free by firefighters.
Eyewitnesses have reported seeing burning vehicles and casualities and debris strewn across the road, one witness saw a number of explosions and black smoke.

FireFighters have said "it's the worst we've ever seen in our careers"

http://news.sky.com/home/uk-news/article/16103826

read that earlier, sounds like a real day version of that stuff that happenns in final destination.

grim.

RobitTV

Look guys this is a RIP thread and messages and updates.

No arguments, it's so disrespectful and a insult to the people involved in this horrific and terrifying accident.

Ian Beale

Just watched the video on sky news, horrific. May those poor people rest in peace and those that survived make a full recovery.

maxfresh

jesus just shows how dangerous motorways can be

myflipflops

It's not often i am genuinely left speechless but that video of the fire had me silent for the last 30 minutes. It is a lot of people's worst fear is to be trapped in a burning car/building

Here's hoping most (if not all) people got out.

fran oconnor

myflipflops wrote: »

It's not enough i am genuinely left speechless but that video of the fire had me silent for the last 30 minutes. It is a lot of people's worst fear is to be trapped in a burning car/building

Here's hoping most (if not all) people got out.

I'd hate to think that any of these people died in a burning car, i'd like to think that there deaths where over quick and without any pain.

Paully D

Absolutely awful news.

Irish Steve

Know that section of road very well, we used to live near J26, and I was driving that section regularly from pretty much the day it opened. Sounds like it's in the section just after the junction, where there is a lot of low lying wet ground, and there is a slight rise to the northbound lane, which slows heavy vehicles a bit.

The M5 is not dangerous, what's dangerous are a number of supposed safety issues. That motorway is 3 lane, unlike most of Ireland's 2 lane motorways, but the biggest safety issue in poor visibility, which apparently is a factor, is the same issue that causes problems on a daily basis here.

Artic trucks, speed limited, where one of the drivers is under so much time pressure, he HAS to get past another truck that's doing almost the same speed as he is. The result of this is that the motorway is effectively suddenly reduced to one lane, as 2 trucks slug it out with each other for sometimes several kilometers at 88.something Kph, while everyone else is doing anything up to (here) 120 or 110 in the UK. If the visibility is poor, a vehicle in Lane 2 may end up pulling into Lane 3 in an inappropriate manner, and if a driver doing high speed in Lane 3 suddenly is faced with a slower vehicle, that can and does cause accidents. I used to deal with breakdowns and accidents on that section of the motorway, and it's not nice,

Here, the same scenario applies, and it's worse, in that most of our motorways are 2 lane. In the UK, HGV's and trailer towing vehicles are not allowed in lane 3, and here, if the speed limit is above 80 Kph, supposedly, HGV's are not allowed in Lane 2, but that's never been enforced that I've seen.

In parts of Germany, the Autobahn have no upper speed limit, only an advisory of 130Kph. I've been on them when Mercs etc have come apparently out of nowhere at speeds up to 180, and even with a careful and close eye on the mirror, a vehicle at that speed comes supposedly out of nowhere.

There are way too many incidents both here and in the UK where people completely underestimate the speed that a vehicle approaching from behind them is doing,

The emergency services are describing this incident as "the worst in living memory", and a lot of memories go back a long way in that part of the world.

Pretty_Pistol

What town/city is that part of motorway near?

I'm not near a TV but by whats been posted here I don't think I want to see it. People being trapped and burned to death.

Sharpshooter

Thread cleaned up.

Keep on topic and leave the digs out.