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| Version 8 | Version 9 |
|---|---|
| Gloucestershire M5 crash: Royal Mail lorry driver dies | Gloucestershire M5 crash: Royal Mail lorry driver dies |
| (12 days later) | |
| A lorry driver from Bristol has died in a five-vehicle crash on the M5 motorway in Gloucestershire, which left the road closed throughout the night. | A lorry driver from Bristol has died in a five-vehicle crash on the M5 motorway in Gloucestershire, which left the road closed throughout the night. |
| The 55-year-old, who was driving a Royal Mail lorry, died at the scene. His family have been told. | The 55-year-old, who was driving a Royal Mail lorry, died at the scene. His family have been told. |
| Police believe snow, hail and icy conditions were "major factors" in the crash, which happened at 21:30 GMT. | Police believe snow, hail and icy conditions were "major factors" in the crash, which happened at 21:30 GMT. |
| The M5 was shut northbound between junctions 10 and 11 overnight but reopened at 07:40. | The M5 was shut northbound between junctions 10 and 11 overnight but reopened at 07:40. |
| Two other lorries and two cars were involved in the accident. | Two other lorries and two cars were involved in the accident. |
| 'Truly horrific' | 'Truly horrific' |
| Sgt Martyn Murawa said: "Some of the officers that turned up described it as an ice rink. | Sgt Martyn Murawa said: "Some of the officers that turned up described it as an ice rink. |
| "We believe it was certainly a major factor at this moment with regards to the collision itself." | "We believe it was certainly a major factor at this moment with regards to the collision itself." |
| Thomas Lydon witnessed the aftermath of the accident. | Thomas Lydon witnessed the aftermath of the accident. |
| He said: "Just north of junction 10 we could see a whole lot of blue lights and emergency services and it wasn't until we were level with the Royal Mail lorry, it was clear it was a really bad smash up. | He said: "Just north of junction 10 we could see a whole lot of blue lights and emergency services and it wasn't until we were level with the Royal Mail lorry, it was clear it was a really bad smash up. |
| "The cab was about 90 degrees to the motorway and there were a lot of firefighters working on it" | "The cab was about 90 degrees to the motorway and there were a lot of firefighters working on it" |
| He said the road surfaces were "awful" on Tuesday evening. | He said the road surfaces were "awful" on Tuesday evening. |
| "When we had driven on the same stretch of the motorway an hour before, the weather was very changeable, there was terrible rain and we hit hail." | "When we had driven on the same stretch of the motorway an hour before, the weather was very changeable, there was terrible rain and we hit hail." |
| Chris Gwilliam, who also witnessed the aftermath of the accident, said it looked like a "truly horrific" crash. | Chris Gwilliam, who also witnessed the aftermath of the accident, said it looked like a "truly horrific" crash. |
| Gloucestershire Police said the Royal Mail driver had been trapped in his vehicle. | Gloucestershire Police said the Royal Mail driver had been trapped in his vehicle. |
| The M5 southbound carriageway was also closed temporarily between junctions 9 and 10 at about the same time, after a car hit the central reservation. | The M5 southbound carriageway was also closed temporarily between junctions 9 and 10 at about the same time, after a car hit the central reservation. |
| In a separate accident, the A40 was closed in both directions between Cheltenham and Burford after two vehicles collided. A male trapped inside one of the vehicles suffered serious injuries. | In a separate accident, the A40 was closed in both directions between Cheltenham and Burford after two vehicles collided. A male trapped inside one of the vehicles suffered serious injuries. |
| A police spokesman said: "Police received a report of erratic driving at 9.25pm and moments later a blue Vauxhall Astra collided with a white Ford Transit van. | A police spokesman said: "Police received a report of erratic driving at 9.25pm and moments later a blue Vauxhall Astra collided with a white Ford Transit van. |
| "The fire service and ambulance service attended and cut a man out of one of the vehicles. | "The fire service and ambulance service attended and cut a man out of one of the vehicles. |
| "The drivers of both vehicles have injuries that are not believed to be life-threatening at this time." | "The drivers of both vehicles have injuries that are not believed to be life-threatening at this time." |