Huge accident on M5

dave_beast · 5 Nov 2011 at 00:48

27 vehicles involved, 35 injured, some serious, some fatalities being reported from Avon and Somerset Police on the BBC news channel.

21z weather obs in the area show fog

ElectroBlaster · 5 Nov 2011 at 00:49

Dam I just heard people are still trapped at the scene... I assume that means people are still trapped in damaged vehicles.

dave_beast · 5 Nov 2011 at 00:51

ElectroBlaster said:
Dam I just heard people are still trapped at the scene... I assume that means people are still trapped in damaged vehicles.

Yes, and from eye witnesses there was a horrific fire, which is why they're probably not mentioning exact figures of casualties.

cheets64 · 5 Nov 2011 at 00:53

Also the fact that no training is given to people driving on the motorway, which I find shocking its still not been implemented to the driving test, I did pass plus and that covered all of 2 hours on the motorway, learnt a lot of driving tips of the instructor I use today.

qqg3 · 5 Nov 2011 at 01:08

dave_beast said:
Yes, and from eye witnesses there was a horrific fire, which is why they're probably not mentioning exact figures of casualties.

That sounds horrible

Expecting more than the "several" they've mentioned already.

JayMax · 5 Nov 2011 at 01:11

This looks horrific from the live news feeds, my every sympathy for those that have been involved, and those that have suffered 'life changing injuries'.

My only 'but' to address the side discussion about speed, I would suggest that braking distance, and leaving a good distance from the vehicle in front has been a bigger factor in this unfortunate event...

arc@css · 5 Nov 2011 at 01:13

lowrider007 said:
"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."

That's just awful.

Indeed, very sad.

DJMK4 · 5 Nov 2011 at 01:18

Holy crap

poor people! Just found out now

Kelt · 5 Nov 2011 at 01:34

Awful news. RIP

Slumberbox · 5 Nov 2011 at 01:45

cheets64 said:
Also the fact that no training is given to people driving on the motorway, which I find shocking its still not been implemented to the driving test, I did pass plus and that covered all of 2 hours on the motorway, learnt a lot of driving tips of the instructor I use today.

Your much less likely to have a serious accident on the motorway, standard roads are much more dangerous especially unlit country roads.

jaybee · 5 Nov 2011 at 01:57

I just imagined for a second what it would be like being burnt alive.

Rroff · 5 Nov 2011 at 02:01

I live just down the road from there, and the fog was so bad even driving at 30mph would be pushing it so I assume similiar visibility there.... and I bet people were still doing 80mph

tragic.

dave_beast · 5 Nov 2011 at 02:01

On nights around bonfire night, there's always smoke in the air from bonfires, and this can make conditions far worse, I think this will also be a contributing factor to this tragedy.

[FnG]magnolia · 5 Nov 2011 at 02:04

Geez, what a terrible thing to happen

Stinky · 5 Nov 2011 at 07:24

Tragic news! I was supposed to finish this job at 6pm last night meaning I would have been in Taunton about 8:30 last night! So glad job got extended 2 days now!

Just hope to god there's none of the family or friends involved!

fiveub · 5 Nov 2011 at 07:40

How did they all catch fire? Was it some sort of pile up? Or did I miss something? Looks absolutely terrifying, RIP to those that died.

Stinky · 5 Nov 2011 at 07:51

Massive pile up apparently! Did they not have a massive down pour around there about that time?

nshire · 5 Nov 2011 at 08:24

Litterally a mile away (Monkton Heathfield) but had my headphones on at the time didn't hear anything. The rugby club they keep going on about was in Bathpool another village just outside of Taunton.

But still bit shocking never had a major accident like that down here. Glad I got no reason to travel today. A38 be mad.

RIP to the people that died.

mrk · 5 Nov 2011 at 08:40

They still can't confirm what started the fires according to the news, cars don't suddenly catch fire when there's a crash - I wouldn't be surprised if 2 or more lorries were trying to overtake each other (seen it many times!) and something went wrong and one of them was carrying flammable materials which caused the inferno on everything hitting it :/

flibbage0 · 5 Nov 2011 at 08:41

5UB said:
How did they all catch fire? Was it some sort of pile up? Or did I miss something? Looks absolutely terrifying, RIP to those that died.

They're not sure yet, but looking from the photos it looks like it involved a couple of lorries going sideways.

Edit: 6 lorries!