M5: two Samworth drivers confirmed dead
Page 5
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
LAST FRIDAY’S (4 November) multiple vehicle pile-up and ire on the M5 in Somerset claimed the lives of two HGV drivers among the seven people conirmed dead as CM went to press.
In total, six lorries were caught up in the 34-vehicle incident, with two Samworth Brothers Distibution drivers killed.
One of the victims was the driver of a Samworth Brothers liveried truck, while the second was a driver returning to a depot as a passenger in one of the group’s Ginsters trucks. The driver of the Ginsters vehicle remains in hospital.
Mark Samworth, director of the Melton-Mowbray, Leicestershire-based company, says: “The thoughts of everyone at Samworth are with the families and friends of all these individuals and others involved in this terrible incident.
“Our priority at the moment is to offer as much support and help as needed to the families of those who have died and to the injured driver and his family.” DHL Supply Chain conirms two of its lorries – one in Iceland livery and another in Sainsbury’s – were also involved, but that the drivers were not seriously injured. It adds: “We offer our deepest sympathies to the bereaved families and are co-operating fully with the police in their investigation. However, while this is under way we have no further comment to make, other than to conirm that road safety remains of the utmost importance to the company.” Another lorry, operated by TNT, was on its way to a Midlands DC from the irm’s Bodmin and Exeter hubs, when it was caught up in the pile-up, while a driver hauling a JB Wheaton & Sons trailer also escaped with minor injuries.
The incident took place around 8.25pm between junctions 24 and 25 of the M5 northbound, near Bridgwater, Somerset.
Police conirm 34 vehicles were involved in the incident, with 51 people injured. The motorway was affected in both directions and was closed from Friday night until Sunday at 9pm.
Incident commander assistant chief constable Anthony Bang
ham, from Avon and Somerset Constabulary, says: “This incident caused a signiicant amount of damage to the highway; a stretch of 40m of road was damaged by fuel spillage from vehicles and a stretch of 60m was damaged by intense ire.” A full-scale investigation is now under way to establish the cause of the incident.
FOR THE LATEST NEWS VISIT:
www.roadtransport.com