A blaze involving a lorry carrying electric vehicles sparked a major incident and closed the M5 near Exeter, diverting hours of motorway traffic through an East Devon village.
A car transporter carrying nine electric vehicles was destroyed on the M5 between Exeter and Cullompton, amid a blaze at around 6.30am on Tuesday, October 1.
Photo: Devon & Cornwall Roads Policing Team.
Both sides of the M5 between junctions 28 and 29 were closed to traffic while the fire service tackled the blaze and motorists were diverted off at Cullompton along the B3181, through Budlake and Broadclyst village.
An eyewitness travelling on the M5 when the car transporter caught fire said the blaze was ‘almost like a firework show’, describing ‘plumes of smoke, big black smoke’.
He told BBC Radio Devon: “We all slowed down and it was a big fireball that went up straight away, exploding across the M5. It was almost like a firework show.”
He said the lorry was smouldering but looked ‘completely destroyed’.
By lunchtime the fire was out and the northbound carriageway reopened to traffic, while the southbound lanes remained closed for emergency resurfacing of the fire-damaged road.
A National Highways spokesperson said: “A car transporter carrying electric vehicles has caught fire earlier today.
“Devon and Somerset fire have extinguished the fire.
“Recovery and clear-up crews are on scene and once clear lane one will remain closed for emergency resurfacing.
“The northbound is now open.
“Devon and Cornwall Police are on scene being assisted by National Highways traffic officers.”
At teatime, traffic was reported to be queuing back to junction 27, at Tiverton, while recovery of the vehicles took place.
Southbound motorway traffic continues to divert through Broadclyst, re-joining the motorway at Exeter, Junction 30.
A Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: “The fire is out but the vehicles on the bottom tier of the transporter are having their temperatures monitored to ensure they are safe to be moved and recovered.
“The northbound carriageway is open, and the southbound carriageway is still closed.”
Photo: Devon & Cornwall Roads Policing Team.
Police, onsite with National Highways, thanked motorists for their patience, adding the southbound carriageway will remain closed ‘pending recovery/monitoring to ensure nothing reignites’.
Devon County Council confirmed higher than normal traffic volumes on diversion routes, including severe delays at Bickleigh Bridge on the A396.
