Dozens feared dead in horrific M5 crash

Several people were killed in England last night after a horrific motorway crash involving around 27 vehicles.

Avon and Somerset Police said “some (people) have tragically lost their lives” after lorries and cars burned following the collision which happened in wet and foggy conditions on the M5 in Somerset.

Witnesses described seeing a number of explosions and emergency services described it as one of the worst incidents they had ever dealt with.

Firefighters battled to rescue motorists by cutting people from cars and lorries using hydraulic equipment.

A large stretch of the motorway is closed in both directions and is likely to remain so for the next 24 hours.

Paul Slaven of Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service told the BBC: “This is the worst road traffic collision anyone can remember... so many vehicles involved.”

Speaking to the BBC, Simon Bruford, 38, from Willerton in Somerset, who was driving southbound, said: “I could see the flames from quite a way back.

“I spent 18 years in the Somerset fire service and have seen a lot nasty things, but that was horrific.”

Twitter user Jon Adair said: “Worst traffic accident I’ve ever seen on the M5 nr Taunton. Burning vehicles & casualties/debris strewn across road.”

Footage broadcast by Sky News showed lorries and cars engulfed in flames. Firefighters and motorists were seen trying to pry open car doors in a bid to rescue those trapped. A number of burning lorries were on their sides.

Mr Slaven said 15 fire appliances had been at the scene of the incident with officers attempting to put out the fierce vehicle fires and rescue people.

“We believe everyone has now been released from their cars,” he said.

Asked why the vehicle fires had been so fierce he said: “I have not had a report of any toxic or chemical material being carried by any vehicles it is just a case of the number of vehicles involved and the type of vehicle.

“At least two of the vehicles on fire were articulated lorries and there would be a lot of fuel on them.”

He said it was too early to speculate what had caused the pile-up, but said there had been a number of contributing factors which made road conditions dangerous.

“The weather was not particularly good at the time and it would have been particularly busy at the time because of the Bridgwater Carnival,” he said.

Paul O’Connor, who shot the shocking footage of the burning cars and lorries, told Sky: “I was quite horrific and I have never seen anything like that – I could see people lying on the side of the road. It was quite disturbing really.

Mr Slaven said up to 40 casualties may have been taken to hospital.

The Highways Agency said the motorway was not expected to open until at least midday.

It is closed northbound between junctions 26 and 24, and closed southbound between junctions 23 and 25.

Edmund King, president of the AA, said the scale of the collision could be similar to a crash on the M4 near Hungerford in Berkshire in 1991. In foggy conditions 10 died and 25 were injured in a 51 vehicle smash, he said.

Mr O'Connor said: ``I heard a loud bang and saw the flames.

“I thought it was something to do with bonfire night and then realised it was something quite bad.

“I was quite horrific and I have never seen anything like that – I could see people lying on the side of the road. It was quite disturbing really.”

Mr O’Connor, who was travelling to Plymouth when the incident happened, continued: “I saw two people lying down and there were quite a lot of people around them – the emergency services were doing what they could, I don’t know if they were OK.

“I heard at one point firefighters telling people trapped inside a vehicle not to panic and they were trying to do what they could to get them out.”

The motorist said he had to pull off the motorway at a service station after witnessing the carnage.

“I think there were other people who had seen it and done the same – it was quite disturbing really.”

Asked what he thought may have caused the incident he added: “When I got there there was no fog but five minutes up the road there was really heavy fog so I think that could be the cause of it.”

Andrea Day from Trafficlink said it was the worst accident she has seen in the 10 years she had been working for the traffic information provider.

“I have never come across an accident of this kind – not in terms of the volume of vehicles involved,” she told Sky.

Witness Steve Burge told the BBC: “From quite a distance away we could see flames.”

He said he saw two lorries on fire and a car which was almost burnt out.

“It was quite difficult to see. It was something that you wouldn’t want to see,” he said.

“It was an image that will stick with me forever.”

Assistant Chief Constable Anthony Bangham said that a ``comprehensive and thorough'' investigation would now take place into what caused the tragedy.