Man dies and two suffer life-threatening injuries in Somerset M5 crash

A man has died in a crash which has closed the M5 motorway in Somerset this morning.

Emergency services were called to the scene of the crash, on the southbound carriageway between Taunton and Wellington, at 6.13am.

Avon and Somerset Police have confirmed that one man aged in his 20s has died in the crash, and two others have been taken to Musgrove Park Hospital in Taunton with life-threatening injuries.

The southbound carriageway of the M5 was closed between junction 25 (the A358 for Taunton) and junction 26 (the A38 for Wellington) for more than six hours.

Sergeant Jim Whatley said: "This is a serious incident in which a young man has tragically lost his life.

"I am particularly keen to speak to anyone who was using the motorway network at this time who may have witnessed this collision."

Diversions through Taunton via the A38 were in operation throughout the closure.

There were also delays of around 30 minutes to an hour between junctions 24 and 25, as traffic built up before being directed off the M5 at Taunton.

The motorway reopened shortly before 1pm.

Anyone who witnessed the incident, or who has any information, should call police on 101.