A young man has died in a tragic incident on the M5 motorway after leaving an ambulance and being struck by a car.
Details of the M5 motorway incident
The 18-year-old was hit by a vehicle on the southbound carriageway between junctions 21 for Weston-super-Mare and 20 for Clevedon. Police were alerted just after 11pm on Sunday, November 30, that a patient had exited an ambulance on the northbound side.
A police officer attempted to bring the man to safety to mitigate the risk to him and other road users. Despite this intervention, the man was struck on the opposite carriageway and died at the scene.
Police response and investigation launched
Assistant Chief Constable Joanne Hall of Avon and Somerset Police expressed the force's condolences. "Our thoughts are with the man's family at such a devastating time," she said. The incident has profoundly affected responding officers and ambulance crews.
A mandatory referral has been made to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) by the force's Professional Standards Department. The IOPC has begun an independent investigation into the circumstances, with which the police have pledged full cooperation.
Welfare support is being provided for emergency service staff and members of the public who witnessed the event.
Major disruption and road closure
The M5 was closed in both directions to allow emergency services to respond and for initial enquiries to be conducted. The closure caused significant disruption during the night. The motorway reopened on the morning of Monday, December 1.
