Devon & Cornwall Police News site

A man has died and another motorist has been seriously injured in two separate collisions on the M5 near Willand last night [Thursday 18 September].  

Officers are appealing for witnesses and dashcam footage in relation to both respective incidents on the southbound carriageway of the motorway.    

Emergency services were initially called at around 9.50pm following a three-vehicle collision near to junction 28 in which one driver was seriously injured.  

A further, separate collision involving four vehicles then happened at 11.10pm near to junction 27 in which one driver tragically died at the scene. A man has been arrested in connection with the second collision which took place on the approach to the earlier incident.  

The M5 was fully closed overnight and into Friday morning while investigations were carried out into both collisions.  

The collision at around 9.50pm involved a blue Vauxhall Zafira, a silver Ford Ka and a white Porsche Boxter.  

The driver of the Ford Ka, aged in his 60s, was taken to hospital with serious injuries. His next-of-kin have been informed.  

Anyone with any relevant information or dashcam footage is asked to contact police via our website or by calling 101, quoting log number 806 of 18 September.  

The collision at around 11.10pm involved four vehicles - an orange Land Rover Discovery, a blue Volkswagen Transporter, a silver Toyota Prius and a black Kia Ceed. 

The Toyota driver, a man in his 30s and from Plymouth, was pronounced deceased at the scene. His next-of-kin have been informed. 

A man aged in his 40s from the Cullompton area, who was driving the Transporter, has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and remains in police custody at this time. 

Four other people were taken to hospital for treatment, none of whom are believed to have sustained life-threatening injuries. 

Anyone with any relevant information or dashcam footage is asked to contact police via our website or by calling 101, quoting log number 859 of 18 September. 

Superintendent for roads policing Joe Mathews said: “Our thoughts are with all those injured in these collisions and with the family and friends of the man who died. 

“These incidents resulted in two challenging scenes and members of the public held within tailbacks and traffic for several hours.  

“Throughout the night, police officers and staff from Devon and Cornwall, Avon and Somerset and Dorset Police, plus the fire and ambulance services and Highways England worked tirelessly to undertake two complex investigations alongside assisting people held at the scene.   

“Highways England colleagues were able to slowly release vehicles by dismantling the central barrier to allow a temporary contraflow.   

“The welfare of members of the public and staff involved and impacted by these two difficult events was at the forefront for those leading the response.  

“The M5 was impacted by closures for around 15 hours. We recognise the impact of this, through the morning rush-hour, was keenly felt; to those seeking to get to work, to appointments, the effect on business and people visiting our counties.    

“We are keen to reassure that, alongside keeping people safe, our clear priority on behalf of the victims of these collisions and their families has been to undertake thorough and detailed investigations.  

“Our aim of returning the M5 to normality was achieved, with the northbound carriageway opening around 11am and the southbound at approximately 1pm.    

“The patience and understanding of people impacted by this event is genuinely appreciated.   

“Police continue the investigation today, with specialist officers supporting the families of those directly involved.”