Woman killed as lorry and van collide on M5
A woman has died after a crash between a lorry and a van on the M5.
The 45-year-old woman, who was a passenger in the van, was pronounced dead at the scene of the collision on the northbound carriageway in Quinton, Birmingham, at around 5am this morning.
The van driver suffered minor injuries and the lorry driver was unharmed.
A stretch of the road next to Junction 3 was shut for around six hours while collision investigators examined the scene.
West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman Claire Brown said: “Ambulance crews arrived to find a van and a lorry which had been involved in a collision.
"Sadly, the passenger of the van, a woman, was confirmed dead on scene.
“The driver of the van, a man, was assessed and found to have suffered minor injuries.
"He was taken to hospital for further check. The lorry driver didn’t require treatment.
“There are currently long delays due to the closure of the M5 and motorists are advised to seek an alternative route.”
Delays
The M5 was closed northbound between the exit and entry slip roads at Junction 3 for Quinton and Halesowen and at the entry slip road for Junction 4 at Bromsgrove, until around 11am.
There were delays of around 30 minutes on the approach to Junction 3 after the crash.
There was also heavy traffic on smaller nearby roads, including the A456 Manor Way in Halesowen.
Appeal
West Midlands Police have appealed for anybody who saw the crash or who has dash-cam footage to get in contact and at 9.30am said the road would be closed "for a considerable period of time".
Inspector Sion Hathaway, from the Central Motorway Police Group, said: “Due to the severity of this crash we need to carry out a full examination of the scene and the road will be closed for a considerable period of time.
"We have a short diversion in place between the two slip roads on the northbound carriageway at junction three. I appreciate this will cause an inconvenience for motorists, and I apologise for any delays faced.
"However, a family has lost of a loved-one and we owe it to them to establish the circumstances behind this collision. Our thoughts are with them at this time."
