Two adults and a teenager have died after a single-vehicle collision on the M5 in south Gloucestershire on Friday evening, Avon and Somerset police said. Another child is in a critical condition after suffering serious injuries in the crash, which involved a BMW car.
A police statement said: “A white BMW car left the northbound carriageway at approximately 9pm last night (Friday 30 May) between junction 14 (Falfield) and the Michaelwood services. As a result, the M5 remains closed in both directions between junctions 14 and 13 (Stroud).
“We’re sad to report two adults in their 40s and one teenage child who were travelling in the vehicle have died from their injuries.
“A second child sustained serious injuries and they have been taken to hospital where they remain in a critical condition.”
Inspector Mark Vicary, of Avon and Somerset’s roads policing unit, said: “Our thoughts first and foremost are with the child in hospital and loved ones who have received the most awful news overnight.
“A specially trained officer will provide them with support at this difficult time.”
He added: “Emergency services have worked throughout the night at what has proved to be a very complex scene. They have worked diligently and professionally to try to save life in the most tragic of circumstances.
“It has been necessary to keep the road closures in place at this time to enable further collision investigation work during daylight hours. Vehicle recovery work still needs to be completed and National Highways will need to assess the carriageway and make any necessary repairs before it will be safe to reopen the motorway.
“As a result, the M5 remains closed this morning and we estimate it will need to stay shut in both directions for the next few hours, however, we are doing all we can to reopen it as soon as possible.
“We appreciate this closure is causing delays and disruption to the public, particularly at the end of the half-term break. But given the severity of this distressing incident, we hope the public can understand the reasons why this is necessary and ask them to consider alternative travel plans.”