The M5 in Devon has fully reopened after a major incident was declared by emergency services when a lorry carrying electric vehicles caught fire. The motorway was shut in both directions on Wednesday for several hours, says the BBC, between junctions 28 and 29.
The northbound carriageway reopened the following morning, with the southbound carriageway following suit later in the evening. National Highways said all the southbound lanes had reopened on Thursday after emergency repair works overnight.
National Highways said there had already been planned works which would take place on Wednesday night and emergency resurfacing was completed alongside this.
Emergency services said a car transporter carrying nine electric vehicles had caught fire on the southbound carriageway. Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service said the cars had been completely damaged by fire.
A spokesperson said the cause of the fire was accidental.
A motorist who had been static on the M5 for over three hours said:
“It was a huge inferno of flames that was on the tail-end of the transporter. We were sat there on the motorway, I’ve never seen so many fire engines turn up and police, ambulance, emergency services. Thankfully no-one was hurt. Driving past the wreckage, there must’ve been significant heat.”
(Pic: Devon & Cornwall Police)
