M5 Closure Causes Six-Hour Traffic Standstill with Drivers Stranded Without Supplies

A major crash involving a tanker and a car near Burnham-on-Sea has caused a lengthy closure of the M5 in Somerset, trapping drivers in gridlocked traffic for hours without access to food or water.

The collision occurred early Tuesday morning, May 5th, resulting in the tanker jack-knifing and spilling a large quantity of diesel. Avon and Somerset Police confirmed no serious injuries, but significant cleanup and recovery efforts have led to prolonged road closures between junctions 22 and 23.

National Highways teams have been busy unloading the damaged tanker’s 32,000-litre diesel load and warned that the motorway would remain shut throughout the afternoon and evening rush hour. Despite diversions in place, drivers already caught within the closed stretch have reported extreme delays, with some stuck inside their vehicles for more than six hours.

One stranded motorist, Gavin, who preferred not to give his full name, described the ordeal of being trapped in the heat without any support or emergency services visiting the scene. “People were getting out to stretch, some with young children, and others needed medication, yet no one offered water or assistance,” he said. Gavin recounted spending the entire day stationary shortly after joining the queue around 10:10 a.m., finally escaping after a grueling six-and-a-half-hour journey to cover just six miles.

Numerous other drivers echoed the frustration, describing the motorway as a “car park” with jammed diversion routes compounding delays. One traveler reported an eight-and-a-half-hour trip from Clevedon to Highbridge, a journey that normally takes just 25 minutes. Concerns about wellbeing were common, especially given the warm weather conditions inside the stationary vehicles.

As of 5 p.m., National Highways reported delays of up to five hours with 14 miles of tailbacks still in place. The M5 closure remains enforced as emergency crews continue their work to clear the diesel spill and safely reopen the motorway.