M5 crash leaves several injured as motorway closure causes travel chaos in Devon
What happened on the M5
Two serious crashes on the M5 in Devon left several people injured and caused a full motorway closure overnight. The incidents occurred on Thursday, 18 September, between junctions 27 and 28, the busy stretch connecting Tiverton and Cullompton.
The first crash occurred around 9:50pm, followed by a second collision at 11:10pm. Emergency services confirmed that both accidents involved multiple vehicles, forcing authorities to close the motorway from 10:30pm onward.
Police confirm serious injuries
Devon and Cornwall police released a statement confirming that “several people” had sustained serious injuries. Collision investigators remain at the scene, working to establish the causes of the crashes.
Officers added that the closures are expected to stay in place until at least late Friday morning, with further disruption likely depending on the results of recovery and investigation work.
Impact on motorists
National highways reported heavy delays across the West Country as traffic was diverted onto local routes. Drivers heading north and south faced significant queues, with diversion roads struggling to cope with the volume of vehicles. Motorists have been urged to allow additional time for travel, check for live updates, and follow diversion signs carefully.
Bristol Airport travel warning
Bristol Airport has advised passengers to plan if they are travelling this morning. With the M5 closed, many surrounding routes have become congested, and delays of over an hour have been reported. Airport officials are encouraging passengers to use alternative routes where possible and to allow extra time to reach the terminal.
Emergency response at the scene
Witnesses reported a strong emergency presence, with multiple police units, fire crews, and ambulances working at the crash sites. While the full extent of the injuries has not yet been confirmed, the scale of the response highlights the seriousness of the collisions.
Ongoing disruption in the West Country
This latest crash adds to a series of traffic incidents across Devon and the wider south west region in recent weeks. Authorities are reminding drivers to stay cautious, particularly at night, when poor visibility can increase risks on the road.
As of Friday morning, the M5 remains fully closed between Tiverton and Cullompton, with updates expected later today.