Drivers faced significant delays on the M5 motorway in Devon following a serious collision involving a lorry and two cars. The incident occurred around 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 16, 2026, near junction 31.
M5 Crash Causes 90-Minute Delays
The collision led to an oil spill, which subsequently resulted in considerable traffic congestion. Reports indicate that traffic stretched approximately four miles, impacting all lanes southbound toward junction 29.
Response and Recovery Efforts
Devon and Cornwall Police handed the scene over to National Highways, responsible for managing the cleanup. By around 11:30 a.m., National Highways issued a statement confirming that lanes two and three were closed due to the spill.
- Incident Time: 11 a.m. on May 16, 2026
- Location: M5 southbound near junction 31
- Congestion: Approximately four miles
- Delays: Initially reported at 60 minutes but increased to 90 minutes
Traffic monitoring service Inrix reported extensive queuing, with two lanes closing as a direct result of the accident and oil spill. This has also led to delays on surrounding routes, particularly in and around Exeter as vehicles reroute to avoid the M5 problems. Additionally, northbound traffic experienced slowdowns due to onlookers viewing the incident.
Advice for Drivers
Authorities advised drivers to allow extra time for travel and to consider alternative routes. The ongoing cleanup efforts by contractors are expected to ease the congestion, but delays may persist well into the afternoon.
