These were the scenes on the M5 near Burnham-On-Sea on Saturday evening (July 4th) after a female motorist died in a serious accident that shut the southbound carriageway.
Fire engines, police and paramedics rushed to the scene, north of Sedgemoor Services, after the car went off the motorway into a ditch and burst into flames shortly before 4.30pm.
Police spokesman Wayne Baker confirmed to Burnham-On-Sea.com: “A car lost control and left the carriageway and then burst into flames.”
“One person was trapped in the vehicle and was declared dead at the scene.”
“A second person was freed from the vehicle and was taken by air ambulance to Frenchay Hospital.”
Queues of traffic built up for four miles before police shut the southbound carriageway, as pictured on the right.
Two lanes of the northbound carriageway were also briefly closed to allow the air ambulance to land.
The police’s Collision Investigation Unit was sent to the scene to start its examination of the crash site.
Police said they are keen to hear from anyone who may have information regarding the incident.
Anyone able to help is asked to contact the Police Collision Investigation Unit on 0845 4567000.
Several vehicles at the back of the queue of waiting traffic on the motorway also collided, about one mile north of the crash site itself
