A man was arrested after disrupting traffic on the M5 near Bridgwater, Somerset, on the night of Thursday, July 16. According to witnesses, the individual was hitting vehicles and climbing onto their roofs while walking along the motorway.
Avon and Somerset Police responded promptly, closing the M5 between Junctions 23 and 24 at approximately 11:20 p.m. following multiple reports of the man on foot in the carriageway and interacting with moving vehicles. Witnesses described a dramatic scene as officers intervened: “Four officers got him off the roof and escorted him to the roadside. He was shouting incomprehensibly, surrounded by about eight officers in a circle.”
An abandoned vehicle, believed to be connected to the man, was discovered on the southbound side of the motorway. Prioritizing public safety, police maintained the road closure as emergency services managed the situation.
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The man was initially taken to Musgrove Park Hospital. After evaluation, he was arrested on suspicion of driving while unfit through alcohol or drugs and was transported to police custody, where he remains.
A spokesperson for Avon and Somerset Police stated: “We received reports of a man on foot on the carriageway and approaching vehicles. Public safety required the closure of the M5 while emergency services attended. The individual was detained, hospitalized briefly, and subsequently arrested on suspicion of impaired driving.”