What happened on the M5 motorway in Somerset in 2011?

On the evening of Friday 4 November 2011 a large multi-vehicle collision occurred on the M5 motorway. The collision generated a fireball.

Seven people tragically lost their lives in the incident and a further 51 were injured.

What caused the 2011 M5 motorway crash and fireball?

Large plumes of smoke from nearby bonfires and firework displays drifted over the M5 near Junction 25. With visibility poor, panic braking and swerving vehicles at around 70 mph caused a multi-vehicle collision on the southbound carriageway. This generated a fireball which set 34 vehicles on fire.

Large sections of the motorway were closed both ways between Junction 23 and 26 as the emergency services battled to save lives and control the fires.

What can the industry learn from the 2011 M5 motorway crash and fire?

An inquiry into the event concluded that although there were large firework displays being held at nearby Taunton Rugby Club it was impossible to foresee and risk assess the fog and smoke mingling. The event was classed as a tragic accident.

Lessons learned by the emergency services are duly noted from previous events and as such the sharing of best practices was apparent. All agencies had a clear understanding of their roles and responsibilities. Only a few minor points came from the inquiry;

• The unauthorised Fire & Rescue talking head hampered the media strategy. It was dealt with internally
• There was no command point in the earliest stages of the incident. Recommendations were raised during the police debrief to investigate the availability of more easily and rapidly deployable vehicles capable of providing a command base in the first hours