Horrifying pile up on the motorway

[DanaC]

Just saw this report. Doesn't exactly help my fear of motorway travel...

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/motorway-fi...041545586.html

At least seven people have been killed and as many as 51 injured in a collision involving 34 vehicles on the M5 motorway in Somerset.

Seven articulated lorries and other light vehicles were involved in the smash on the motorway close to junction 25 near Taunton at around 8.30pm last night.

An Avon and Somerset Police spokesman said that the death toll could rise as additional identifications have been made.

At least four people who were trapped were cut free by firefighters.

A spokesman for Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service described it as "the worst road traffic collision anyone can remember".

Video footage from the scene showed several vehicles engulfed in flames and debris strewn across the road. A number of burning lorries were also on their side.


Firefighters were seen trying to pry open car doors to reach those trapped inside.

Assistant Chief Constable Anthony Bangham said a number of passengers were unable to escape from their burning cars and said crews were faced with a "massive fireball".

"Most vehicles were well alight and most continued to burn for a considerable time," he said.

"This made it very difficult to search the vehicles. Some of them have been burned to the ground."

What a fucking nightmare:

In an email sent to Sky News, witness Ciara Neno said: "It was quite frankly the scariest night of my life and we are extremely lucky to be alive tonight.

"A black fog came down very very fast and the Iceland truck in front of us literally disappeared.

"We managed to brake and not hit the truck but the carnage had started and all we heard was 'thump thump thump' and we were waiting to be hit and end up under the lorry.

"I got onto the emergency services and my husband started dragging people from smoking cars. The noise and the smell was horrendous and there was several explosions as the fires took hold."