Commuters faced severe disruption on the M5 motorway during Thursday morning's rush hour after an overturned van led to major traffic chaos and lengthy delays.
Incident Details and Lane Closures
The collision occurred on the M5 northbound between Junction 6 for Worcester and Junction 5 for Wychbold, resulting in a van overturning. Three out of four lanes were forced to close, creating a significant bottleneck for morning traffic.
National Highways reported the incident on social media shortly before 8am, confirming that recovery teams were en route to the scene to clear the overturned vehicle and manage the situation.
Extensive Traffic Congestion and Delays
The lane closures created approximately five miles of congestion on the approach to the incident. Drivers experienced delays of over 60 minutes during what is typically one of the busiest travel periods.
National Highways indicated that normal traffic conditions were expected to return between 12.45pm and 1pm, providing some relief for afternoon travellers.
Context and Previous Incidents
This incident follows another serious collision on the Midlands road network earlier in the week. On Tuesday night, a lorry crashed through the central reservation on the M54, involving multiple vehicles in subsequent collisions.
That incident caused extensive barrier damage and resulted in four people being assessed by ambulance staff, with two men receiving treatment for non-serious injuries before being taken to hospital.
The M5 serves as a crucial transport artery running from the Midlands to the South West, connecting major areas including Birmingham and Exeter, making such disruptions particularly impactful for regional travel.
