A man died after an accident with two trucks on the M5 in Somerset today (Friday, April 29). The second driver was taken to hospital with injuries not considered life-threatening, police said.
Meanwhile, serious delays of up to an hour on the M5, A38 and A370 remain, as drivers try to get around and bypass the remaining two-lane road closure in a northerly direction. The collision took place between Burnham-on-Sea and Weston-super-Mare around 13.30.
The southern M5 was then closed to allow an air ambulance to land on the highway, and police confirmed that two trucks were involved in the crash. One person was transported to hospital by land ambulance this afternoon.
READ MORE: Collision with a truck and traffic jam for more than 40 miles
All lanes of the northern lane have reopened after work to investigate the incident, but there are still congestion of five miles and delays of up to 45 minutes. The road to the south is also fully open.
A detour route through the A38 and A370 is suggested by Highways England. However, additional traffic shifted to these highways has led to long queues on the Colliters Way and near Bristol International Airport.
M5 Day would always be busy today (April 29), as the weekend for public holidays begins in early May. Many holidaymakers will head to the West to enjoy the little sun and the beautiful scenery we are proud of.
READ MORE: One person was taken to hospital after a serious collision
According to the RAC, drivers across the UK are planning around 16.8 million leisure trips this weekend. They expect Monday to be the busiest day with about 3.3 million trips.
However, due to the current high fuel prices, it is reported that 14 percent of drivers will not leave this weekend. This figure was 6 percent for Easter, which shows that the ongoing crisis in the cost of living is affecting how people spend their “free” time.
The RAC encourages people to inspect their vehicles before a long trip this weekend to avoid unnecessary damage. They advise drivers to quickly check oil and coolant levels, as well as make sure their tires are inflated to the correct pressure.
RAC spokesman Rod Dennis said: “Easter may have been just a few weeks ago, but it seems that many drivers are still trying to make the most of this May Day holiday. We expect routes to classic tourist hotspots – especially the coast – to be congested on Friday afternoon and Saturday morning, although according to our research, Monday may be the busiest day of the long weekend.
“Preparation is paramount to avoid uncomfortable damage to the side of the road – the fact is that most of the jobs our patrols will be attending this weekend will be avoided if drivers take just a little time to to check that their vehicles are “ready to go”. A quick glance under the hood to check oil and coolant levels, as well as make sure the tires are properly inflated and in good condition, can save hours of hassle on the side of the road. ”
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