‘You prevented more accidents’ Truckers praised
ATANKER driver and a lorry driver have been praised for their quick thinking after a crash involving multiple vehicles on the M5.
Two lanes of the motorway were closed and emergency services were on the scene for much of Wednesday night after the crash, which occurred at Junction 21 at Weston-super-Mare.
Both drivers stopped to help, as well as to provide information and dashcam footage to the police.
One of the men, who was driving a Jays/RT Keedwell lorry and witnessed part of the incident, was Josh Pring from Somerset.
He described how he reacted quickly to help protect those already injured.
He said: “I was travelling back to our company yard in Highbridge, following the fuel tanker in lane two as lane one often slows down on approach to the Weston junction.
“I saw a plume of smoke or steam ahead and a car spinning across from lane one into two.
“When this happened the tanker in front of me stopped in lane two and I pulled across lanes one and two to prevent any other vehicles coming up those lanes and impacting those already injured.
“I did my best to comfort and aid those involved, with several others who witnessed the crash, including the driver of the tanker, a car driver and a Red Cross first aider who happened to be passing.
“There was extensive damage to two of the vehicles involved but all drivers had got themselves out of their vehicles by the time I made it over to them.
“After that the emergency services took over and I stayed to provide contact information and give a statement as well as continue to protect everyone there until a proper road closure was in place.”
Both Mr Pring and the tanker driver have been praised by members of a Facebook group dedicated to the M5.
One comment read: “Well done to the truckers for instinctively using their vehicles to protect those involved in the crash.”
Another said: “Well done to you for doing this. You prevented more accidents happening.”
A third wrote: “I tried ringing your company to commend your actions, well done, drive! Loads of respect.”
Responding to the comments, Mr Pring said: “I don’t feel the praise is warranted. I would like to think someone would do the same for me if I was involved in something like that and I did it to help those affected.
“I hope those involved are well and recover soon.”
Avon Fire and Rescue Service said three vehicles were involved in the collision.