M5 lorry crash cleared after gantry collision near Bristol

Police are appealing for witnesses after the lorry smashed into the gantry at around 8.20am on Thursday, March 2.

The southbound carriageway re-opened at around 5.20pm after National Highways recovered the lorry bed, which was wedged under the gantry in lane one.

The agency later confirmed the re-opening of the northbound lane on Twitter.

At 10.27pm, the National Highways South West account tweeted: "The M5 southbound between J17 (Cribbs Causeway) and J18a (M49) has now reopened. Both directions are now open following an earlier collision. There are no residual delays."

PICTURES: Lorry crashes into overhead gantry on M5 near Bristol 

Handout photo issued by the National Highways of dismantling work being carried out on an overhead gantry after a tipper truck smashed into the gantry on the M5 near Bristol. (Image: PA Picture Desk/National Highways)

At least one sign attached to the structure fell onto the road after the collision, and all other signs on the gantry were disrupted as electrical cables were severed. Hydraulic fluid also spilled onto the carriageway.

Avon and Somerset Police said there were no injuries. The force has appealed for witnesses of the crash to contact them. 

Handout photo issued by the National Highways of dismantling work being carried out on an overhead gantry after a tipper truck smashed into the gantry on the M5 near Bristol (Image: PA Picture Desk/National Highways)

In a statement, a police spokesperson said: “We understand the lorry joined the M5 at junction 17 and are keen to hear from anyone who witnessed the collision or the vehicle in the moments leading up to the incident.”

Handout photo issued by the National Highways of a tipper truck which smashed into an overhead gantry on the M5 near Bristol. Part of the vehicle was wedged under the gantry in lane one, but was later removed. (Image: PA Picture Desk/National Highways)

Yesterday, Terry Robinson, south west engineering manager for National Highways, said: “We were forced to close the M5 today to protect the travelling public and given the scale of the damage, we and our teams have been working extremely hard to ensure we could reopen by this evening.

“If you can help our enquiries, please call 101 and give the call-handler reference number 5223050000.”

The collision took place at around 8.20pm yesterday morning (Thursday). (Image: Sam Greenslade, PA)

The motorway fully re-opened shortly before 10.30pm. (Image: Andy Nickolls)