2011 M5 motorway crash
Encyclopedia
The 2011 M5 motorway crash was a multi-vehicle collision that took place on 4 November 2011 on the M5 motorway
near Taunton
, Somerset
, in South West England
. The crash, which involved multiple cars and articulated lorries
, left seven people dead and 51 injured.
near Junction 25 at Bathpool
and Creech St Michael
in Somerset
, 2.2 miles (3.5 km) north east of Taunton.
The vehicles included cars, vans and lorries, some of which erupted into a fireball. Flames rose up to 20 feet (6 m) high. Seven people were confimed dead, and a further 51 injured.
Sixteen casualties were treated at Musgrove Park Hospital
in Taunton and 26 at Yeovil District Hospital
.
A surgeon was flown by helicopter from the major trauma centre at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital
to cope with the load and the types of multi-system trauma, including multiple fractures and chest, abdominal and lung injuries.
Fifteen fire appliances from Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service
attended, travelling from stations across Somerset and Devon.
By 8.27 am on 6 November the emergency services had removed the vehicles from the crash site, but both carriageways of the motorway, between Junctions 24 and 25, remained closed for repair work. The formal identification of crash fatalities had not yet taken place.
A 40 metres (131.2 ft) stretch of road was damaged by fuel spillage from vehicles and a 60 metres (196.9 ft) stretch was damaged by intense fire. Two lanes of the southbound carriageway reopened at about 5 pm on Sunday 6 November, and the motorway was fully opened in both directions at 9 pm the same day.
, and another was from Samworth subsidiary company Ginsters
.
Two of the company's drivers were killed and another was injured in the crash.
On 8 November, the seven people who died were named.
One eyewitness described the scene of the crash, saying: "It was a horrific accident. 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
.”
of Avon and Somerset Constabulary
, Anthony Bangham, told reporters that it was feared more bodies were still trapped in badly burnt vehicles, some of which had been "burnt to the ground" and unrecognisable. However, after an overnight forensic search no further bodies were found.
Police stated that a firework display
at Taunton Rugby Club
, near the site of the crash, was a "major line of inquiry", as "a blanket of thick smoke", which could have drifted from the display, was lying across the motorway at the time.
The club's location was described as "a few hundred metres" away from the M5. Bangham went on to say "Accountability is clearly something we will look at ... it is a crime investigation as well as a road policing investigation." He added that driving conditions were “difficult”, and that there was fog in the area at the time of the crash.
Justine Greening
, the Secretary of State for Transport
, told the House of Commons that it may take weeks to determine the cause of the crash. An inquest into the deaths was opened at the Old Municipal Building in Taunton
on 10 November.
M5 motorway
The M5 is a motorway in England. It runs from a junction with the M6 at West Bromwich near Birmingham to Exeter in Devon. Heading south-west, the M5 runs east of West Bromwich and west of Birmingham through Sandwell Valley...
near Taunton
Taunton
Taunton is the county town of Somerset, England. The town, including its suburbs, had an estimated population of 61,400 in 2001. It is the largest town in the shire county of Somerset....
, Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
, in South West England
South West England
South West England is one of the regions of England defined by the Government of the United Kingdom for statistical and other purposes. It is the largest such region in area, covering and comprising Bristol, Gloucestershire, Somerset, Dorset, Wiltshire, Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. ...
. The crash, which involved multiple cars and articulated lorries
Semi-trailer truck
A semi-trailer truck, also known as a semi, tractor-trailer, or articulated truck or articulated lorry, is an articulated vehicle consisting of a towing engine , and a semi-trailer A semi-trailer truck, also known as a semi, tractor-trailer, or (in the United Kingdom and Ireland) articulated truck...
, left seven people dead and 51 injured.
Accident
At 8.25 pm on Friday 4 November 2011, 34 vehicles were involved in an accident on the northbound carriageway of the M5 motorwayM5 motorway
The M5 is a motorway in England. It runs from a junction with the M6 at West Bromwich near Birmingham to Exeter in Devon. Heading south-west, the M5 runs east of West Bromwich and west of Birmingham through Sandwell Valley...
near Junction 25 at Bathpool
West Monkton
West Monkton is a village and civil parish in Somerset, England, situated north east of Taunton in the Taunton Deane district. The parish includes the hamlets of Monkton Heathfield, Bathpool, Burlinch and Coombe, and had a population of 2,663 at the 2001 census.-History:The charter for West...
and Creech St Michael
Creech St Michael
Creech St. Michael is a village and civil parish in Somerset, England, situated three miles east of Taunton in the Taunton Deane district. The village has a population of 2,464...
in Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
, 2.2 miles (3.5 km) north east of Taunton.
The vehicles included cars, vans and lorries, some of which erupted into a fireball. Flames rose up to 20 feet (6 m) high. Seven people were confimed dead, and a further 51 injured.
Sixteen casualties were treated at Musgrove Park Hospital
Musgrove Park Hospital
Musgrove Park Hospital is a large NHS hospital located in Taunton, Somerset. Originally a US Army General Hospital during the Second World War, it became an NHS hospital in 1949.-About the hospital:...
in Taunton and 26 at Yeovil District Hospital
Yeovil District Hospital
Yeovil District Hospital is a NHS foundation trust hospital in Yeovil, Somerset, England.It provides acute care for a population of about 180,000, people living in South Somerset, North and West Dorset, and parts of Mendip. The hospital admits around 30,000 inpatients or day cases each year and...
.
A surgeon was flown by helicopter from the major trauma centre at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital
Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital
The Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital , is a medium-sized teaching hospital situated in Exeter, England. The hospital is part of the Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust which also runs Heavitree Hospital, Honeylands Children’s Centre , the Exeter Mobility...
to cope with the load and the types of multi-system trauma, including multiple fractures and chest, abdominal and lung injuries.
Fifteen fire appliances from Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service
Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service
Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service is the statutory fire and rescue service covering the counties of Devon and Somerset, including the unitary authorities of Plymouth and Torbay, in South West England...
attended, travelling from stations across Somerset and Devon.
By 8.27 am on 6 November the emergency services had removed the vehicles from the crash site, but both carriageways of the motorway, between Junctions 24 and 25, remained closed for repair work. The formal identification of crash fatalities had not yet taken place.
A 40 metres (131.2 ft) stretch of road was damaged by fuel spillage from vehicles and a 60 metres (196.9 ft) stretch was damaged by intense fire. Two lanes of the southbound carriageway reopened at about 5 pm on Sunday 6 November, and the motorway was fully opened in both directions at 9 pm the same day.
Aftermath and reaction
One of the trucks involved was from food company Samworth BrothersSamworth Brothers
Samworth Brothers are a Leicestershire-based food manufacturer, the owner of Cornish pasty maker Ginsters, and the largest maker of certified Melton Mowbray pork pies. It is listed at number four in The Times Top Track 250.-History:...
, and another was from Samworth subsidiary company Ginsters
Ginsters
Ginsters is a company based in Callington in Cornwall, in the south-west of England. The biggest selling pasty maker in the UK, it specialises in making mass produced pasties, sausage rolls, sandwiches, pasta bowls and other savoury snacks.-History:...
.
Two of the company's drivers were killed and another was injured in the crash.
On 8 November, the seven people who died were named.
One eyewitness described the scene of the crash, saying: "It was a horrific accident. 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
War in Afghanistan (2001–present)
The War in Afghanistan began on October 7, 2001, as the armed forces of the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Australia, and the Afghan United Front launched Operation Enduring Freedom...
.”
Investigation
Initially, Assistant Chief ConstableAssistant Chief Constable
Assistant chief constable is the third highest rank in all British territorial police forces , as well as the British Transport Police, Ministry of Defence Police and...
of Avon and Somerset Constabulary
Avon and Somerset Constabulary
Avon & Somerset Constabulary is the territorial police force in England responsible for policing the non-metropolitan county of Somerset, the city & county of Bristol and the unitary authorities of South Gloucestershire, North Somerset and Bath and North East Somerset; before 1996 these districts...
, Anthony Bangham, told reporters that it was feared more bodies were still trapped in badly burnt vehicles, some of which had been "burnt to the ground" and unrecognisable. However, after an overnight forensic search no further bodies were found.
Police stated that a firework display
Fireworks
Fireworks are a class of explosive pyrotechnic devices used for aesthetic and entertainment purposes. The most common use of a firework is as part of a fireworks display. A fireworks event is a display of the effects produced by firework devices...
at Taunton Rugby Club
Taunton R.F.C.
Taunton Rugby Football Club is an English rugby union club that is based in Taunton, Somerset. They currently play in National League 2 South, having achieved back-to-back promotions in 2009 and 2010.-History:...
, near the site of the crash, was a "major line of inquiry", as "a blanket of thick smoke", which could have drifted from the display, was lying across the motorway at the time.
The club's location was described as "a few hundred metres" away from the M5. Bangham went on to say "Accountability is clearly something we will look at ... it is a crime investigation as well as a road policing investigation." He added that driving conditions were “difficult”, and that there was fog in the area at the time of the crash.
Justine Greening
Justine Greening
Justine Greening is a Conservative Party politician in the United Kingdom. She has been the Member of Parliament for Putney since 2005. She was appointed Economic Secretary to the Treasury in May 2010, and became Secretary of State for Transport on 14 October 2011...
, the Secretary of State for Transport
Secretary of State for Transport
The Secretary of State for Transport is the member of the cabinet responsible for the British Department for Transport. The role has had a high turnover as new appointments are blamed for the failures of decades of their predecessors...
, told the House of Commons that it may take weeks to determine the cause of the crash. An inquest into the deaths was opened at the Old Municipal Building in Taunton
Taunton
Taunton is the county town of Somerset, England. The town, including its suburbs, had an estimated population of 61,400 in 2001. It is the largest town in the shire county of Somerset....
on 10 November.
