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CrashStats

Fatal M5 crash in Somerset on 4 November 2011 at 20:23 involving a car

34 vehicles, including 26 cars and six lorries, were involved in a crash on the M5 in Somerset at 20:23 on Friday 4 November 2011. There were 51 casualties: 7 people were killed, 11 were seriously injured and 33 were slightly injured.

It happened in daylight on a dry dual carriageway with a 70 mph limit, away from any junction.

Severity
Fatal
Date
4 Nov 2011
Friday, 20:23
Vehicles
34
Car and 33 others
Casualties
51
7 killed, 11 seriously injured, 33 slightly injured

Location of the crash

Police recorded the crash at latitude 51.02512, longitude -3.05527, in the TA2 postcode district. The location was in the former Somerset West and Taunton district.

Map of where the crash happened in Somerset

Use the arrow keys to move the map and the plus and minus keys to zoom.

  • 1 crash
  • Fatal

Collision details

Basic information

Reference
2011520104001
Council area
Somerset
Police force
Avon and Somerset
Police attended the scene
Yes

Road and location details

First road class
Motorway
First road number
5
Road type
Dual carriageway
Speed limit
70 mph
Urban or rural
Rural
Trunk road
Trunk road (National Highways)

Junction information

Junction type
Not at junction or within 20 metres

Pedestrian crossing information

Crossing facilities
No physical crossing facility within 50 m

Environmental conditions

Light conditions
Daylight
Road surface
Dry

Enhanced collision data

How severity was recorded
Judged by the reporting police officer

The 6 nearest recorded crashes

The nearest, 22 metres away, was a slight injury crash on 15 October 2001.

Vehicles involved (34)

  • Vehicle 1: Car

    Manoeuvre
    Going ahead
    Travelling from
    South West
    Travelling to
    North East
    Position at junction
    Not at or within 20 metres of junction
    Left-hand drive
    No
    Driver sex
    Male
    Driver age
    51 years

  • Vehicle 2: Car

    Manoeuvre
    Going ahead
    Travelling from
    South West
    Travelling to
    North East
    Position at junction
    Not at or within 20 metres of junction
    Left-hand drive
    No
    Driver sex
    Male
    Driver age
    40 years

  • Vehicle 3: Car

    Manoeuvre
    Going ahead
    Travelling from
    South West
    Travelling to
    North East
    Position at junction
    Not at or within 20 metres of junction
    First point of impact
    Nearside
    Left-hand drive
    No
    Driver sex
    Male
    Driver age
    43 years

  • Vehicle 4: Car

    Manoeuvre
    Going ahead
    Travelling from
    South West
    Travelling to
    North East
    Position at junction
    Not at or within 20 metres of junction
    Left-hand drive
    No
    Driver sex
    Male
    Driver age
    25 years

  • Vehicle 5: Car

    Manoeuvre
    Going ahead
    Travelling from
    South West
    Travelling to
    North East
    Position at junction
    Not at or within 20 metres of junction
    Left-hand drive
    No
    Driver sex
    Male
    Driver age
    51 years

  • Vehicle 6: Lorry

    Goods vehicle 7.5 tonnes and over

    Towing and articulation
    Articulated vehicle
    Manoeuvre
    Going ahead
    Travelling from
    South West
    Travelling to
    North East
    Position at junction
    Not at or within 20 metres of junction
    Left-hand drive
    No
    Driver sex
    Male
    Driver age
    46 years

  • Vehicle 7: Car

    Manoeuvre
    Going ahead
    Travelling from
    South West
    Travelling to
    North East
    Position at junction
    Not at or within 20 metres of junction
    Left-hand drive
    No
    Driver sex
    Male
    Driver age
    31 years

  • Vehicle 8: Car

    Manoeuvre
    Going ahead
    Travelling from
    South West
    Travelling to
    North East
    Position at junction
    Not at or within 20 metres of junction
    Left-hand drive
    No
    Driver sex
    Male
    Driver age
    21 years

  • Vehicle 9: Lorry

    Goods vehicle 7.5 tonnes and over

    Towing and articulation
    Articulated vehicle
    Manoeuvre
    Going ahead
    Travelling from
    South West
    Travelling to
    North East
    Position at junction
    Not at or within 20 metres of junction
    Journey purpose
    Education and educational escort
    Driver sex
    Male
    Driver age
    39 years

  • Vehicle 10: Car

    Manoeuvre
    Going ahead
    Travelling from
    South West
    Travelling to
    North East
    Position at junction
    Not at or within 20 metres of junction
    Left-hand drive
    No
    Journey purpose
    Journey as part of work
    Driver sex
    Male
    Driver age
    23 years

  • Vehicle 11: Car

    Manoeuvre
    Going ahead
    Travelling from
    South West
    Travelling to
    North East
    Position at junction
    Not at or within 20 metres of junction
    Left-hand drive
    No
    Driver sex
    Male
    Driver age
    53 years

  • Vehicle 12: Car

    Manoeuvre
    Going ahead
    Travelling from
    South West
    Travelling to
    North East
    Position at junction
    Not at or within 20 metres of junction
    Left-hand drive
    No
    Journey purpose
    Education and educational escort
    Driver sex
    Male
    Driver age
    44 years

  • Vehicle 13: Car

    Manoeuvre
    Going ahead
    Travelling from
    South West
    Travelling to
    North East
    Position at junction
    Not at or within 20 metres of junction
    Left-hand drive
    No
    Journey purpose
    Education and educational escort
    Driver sex
    Male
    Driver age
    49 years

  • Vehicle 14: Car

    Manoeuvre
    Going ahead
    Travelling from
    South West
    Travelling to
    North East
    Position at junction
    Not at or within 20 metres of junction
    Left-hand drive
    No
    Driver sex
    Female
    Driver age
    22 years

  • Vehicle 15: Lorry

    Goods vehicle 7.5 tonnes and over

    Towing and articulation
    Articulated vehicle
    Manoeuvre
    Going ahead
    Travelling from
    South West
    Travelling to
    North East
    Position at junction
    Not at or within 20 metres of junction
    Left-hand drive
    No
    Driver sex
    Male
    Driver age
    47 years

  • Vehicle 16: Car

    Manoeuvre
    Going ahead
    Travelling from
    South West
    Travelling to
    North East
    Position at junction
    Not at or within 20 metres of junction
    Left-hand drive
    No
    Driver sex
    Male
    Driver age
    23 years

  • Vehicle 17: Car

    Manoeuvre
    Going ahead
    Travelling from
    South West
    Travelling to
    North East
    Position at junction
    Not at or within 20 metres of junction
    Left-hand drive
    No
    Driver sex
    Male
    Driver age
    63 years

  • Vehicle 18: Car

    Manoeuvre
    Going ahead
    Travelling from
    South West
    Travelling to
    North East
    Position at junction
    Not at or within 20 metres of junction
    Left-hand drive
    No
    Driver sex
    Male
    Driver age
    67 years

  • Vehicle 19: Car

    Manoeuvre
    Going ahead
    Travelling from
    South West
    Travelling to
    North East
    Position at junction
    Not at or within 20 metres of junction
    Left-hand drive
    No
    Driver sex
    Male
    Driver age
    60 years

  • Vehicle 20: Car

    Manoeuvre
    Going ahead
    Travelling from
    South West
    Travelling to
    North East
    Position at junction
    Not at or within 20 metres of junction
    Left-hand drive
    No
    Driver sex
    Female
    Driver age
    28 years

  • Vehicle 21: Lorry

    Goods vehicle 7.5 tonnes and over

    Towing and articulation
    Articulated vehicle
    Manoeuvre
    Going ahead
    Travelling from
    South West
    Travelling to
    North East
    Position at junction
    Not at or within 20 metres of junction
    Driver sex
    Male
    Driver age
    55 years

  • Vehicle 22: Car

    Manoeuvre
    Going ahead
    Travelling from
    South West
    Travelling to
    North East
    Position at junction
    Not at or within 20 metres of junction
    Driver sex
    Male
    Driver age
    25 years

  • Vehicle 23: Car

    Manoeuvre
    Going ahead
    Travelling from
    South West
    Travelling to
    North East
    Position at junction
    Not at or within 20 metres of junction
    Driver sex
    Female
    Driver age
    29 years

  • Vehicle 24: Car

    Manoeuvre
    Going ahead
    Travelling from
    South West
    Travelling to
    North East
    Position at junction
    Not at or within 20 metres of junction
    Driver sex
    Male
    Driver age
    47 years

  • Vehicle 25: Car

    Manoeuvre
    Going ahead
    Travelling from
    South West
    Travelling to
    North East
    Position at junction
    Not at or within 20 metres of junction
    Driver sex
    Male
    Driver age
    45 years

  • Vehicle 26: Car

    Manoeuvre
    Going ahead
    Travelling from
    South West
    Travelling to
    North East
    Position at junction
    Not at or within 20 metres of junction
    Driver sex
    Male
    Driver age
    73 years

  • Vehicle 27: Lorry

    Goods vehicle 7.5 tonnes and over

    Towing and articulation
    Articulated vehicle
    Manoeuvre
    Going ahead
    Travelling from
    South West
    Travelling to
    North East
    Position at junction
    Not at or within 20 metres of junction
    Driver sex
    Male
    Driver age
    38 years

  • Vehicle 28: Taxi

    Taxi or private hire car

    Manoeuvre
    Going ahead
    Travelling from
    South West
    Travelling to
    North East
    Position at junction
    Not at or within 20 metres of junction
    Driver sex
    Male
    Driver age
    49 years

  • Vehicle 29: Lorry

    Goods vehicle 7.5 tonnes and over

    Towing and articulation
    Articulated vehicle
    Manoeuvre
    Going ahead
    Travelling from
    South West
    Travelling to
    North East
    Position at junction
    Not at or within 20 metres of junction
    Driver sex
    Male
    Driver age
    46 years

  • Vehicle 30: Car

    Manoeuvre
    Going ahead
    Travelling from
    South West
    Travelling to
    North East
    Position at junction
    Not at or within 20 metres of junction
    Driver sex
    Male
    Driver age
    46 years

  • Vehicle 31: Car

    Manoeuvre
    Going ahead
    Travelling from
    South West
    Travelling to
    North East
    Position at junction
    Not at or within 20 metres of junction
    Driver sex
    Male
    Driver age
    23 years

  • Vehicle 32: Van

    Van or goods vehicle up to 3.5 tonnes

    Manoeuvre
    Going ahead
    Travelling from
    South West
    Travelling to
    North East
    Position at junction
    Not at or within 20 metres of junction
    Driver sex
    Female
    Driver age
    42 years

  • Vehicle 33: Car

    Manoeuvre
    Going ahead
    Travelling from
    South West
    Travelling to
    North East
    Position at junction
    Not at or within 20 metres of junction
    Driver sex
    Male
    Driver age
    40 years

  • Vehicle 34: Car

    Manoeuvre
    Going ahead
    Travelling from
    South West
    Travelling to
    North East
    Position at junction
    Not at or within 20 metres of junction
    Driver sex
    Male
    Driver age
    40 years

Casualties (51)

  • Casualty 1: Driver

    Slight

    Male, aged 51, car occupant, in vehicle 1 (Car)

  • Casualty 2: Driver

    Slight

    Male, aged 25, car occupant, in vehicle 4 (Car)

  • Casualty 3: Driver

    Slight

    Male, aged 51, car occupant, in vehicle 5 (Car)

  • Casualty 4: Driver

    Slight

    Male, aged 21, car occupant, in vehicle 8 (Car)

  • Casualty 5: Passenger

    Slight

    Female, aged 19, car occupant, in vehicle 8 (Car)

    Car passenger
    Front seat passenger

  • Casualty 6: Driver

    Slight

    Male, aged 39, goods vehicle occupant (7.5 tonnes and over), in vehicle 9 (Lorry)

  • Casualty 7: Driver

    Slight

    Male, aged 23, car occupant, in vehicle 10 (Car)

  • Casualty 8: Passenger

    Slight

    Male, aged 23, car occupant, in vehicle 10 (Car)

    Car passenger
    Front seat passenger

  • Casualty 9: Driver

    Serious

    Male, aged 53, car occupant, in vehicle 11 (Car)

  • Casualty 10: Driver

    Slight

    Male, aged 49, car occupant, in vehicle 13 (Car)

  • Casualty 11: Passenger

    Slight

    Female, aged 49, car occupant, in vehicle 13 (Car)

    Car passenger
    Front seat passenger

  • Casualty 12: Passenger

    Slight

    Female, aged 20, car occupant, in vehicle 13 (Car)

    Car passenger
    Rear seat passenger

  • Casualty 13: Driver

    Slight

    Female, aged 22, car occupant, in vehicle 14 (Car)

  • Casualty 14: Driver

    Slight

    Male, aged 47, goods vehicle occupant (7.5 tonnes and over), in vehicle 15 (Lorry)

  • Casualty 15: Passenger

    Slight

    Male, aged 45, goods vehicle occupant (7.5 tonnes and over), in vehicle 15 (Lorry)

    Car passenger
    Front seat passenger

  • Casualty 16: Driver

    Slight

    Male, aged 23, car occupant, in vehicle 16 (Car)

  • Casualty 17: Passenger

    Fatal

    Female, aged 30, car occupant, in vehicle 16 (Car)

    Car passenger
    Front seat passenger

  • Casualty 18: Passenger

    Fatal

    Male, aged 67, car occupant, in vehicle 16 (Car)

    Car passenger
    Rear seat passenger

  • Casualty 19: Passenger

    Serious

    Female, aged 19, car occupant, in vehicle 16 (Car)

    Car passenger
    Rear seat passenger

  • Casualty 20: Driver

    Slight

    Male, aged 63, car occupant, in vehicle 17 (Car)

  • Casualty 21: Passenger

    Serious

    Female, aged 55, car occupant, in vehicle 17 (Car)

    Car passenger
    Front seat passenger

  • Casualty 22: Driver

    Slight

    Male, aged 67, car occupant, in vehicle 18 (Car)

  • Casualty 23: Driver

    Serious

    Male, aged 60, car occupant, in vehicle 19 (Car)

  • Casualty 24: Driver

    Serious

    Female, aged 28, car occupant, in vehicle 20 (Car)

  • Casualty 25: Driver

    Slight

    Male, aged 55, goods vehicle occupant (7.5 tonnes and over), in vehicle 21 (Lorry)

  • Casualty 26: Driver

    Slight

    Male, aged 25, car occupant, in vehicle 22 (Car)

  • Casualty 27: Passenger

    Slight

    Male, aged 51, car occupant, in vehicle 22 (Car)

    Car passenger
    Front seat passenger

  • Casualty 28: Driver

    Slight

    Female, aged 29, car occupant, in vehicle 23 (Car)

  • Casualty 29: Passenger

    Slight

    Male, aged 30, car occupant, in vehicle 23 (Car)

    Car passenger
    Front seat passenger

  • Casualty 30: Passenger

    Slight

    Male, aged 4, car occupant, in vehicle 23 (Car)

    Car passenger
    Rear seat passenger

  • Casualty 31: Passenger

    Slight

    Male, aged 1, car occupant, in vehicle 23 (Car)

    Car passenger
    Rear seat passenger

  • Casualty 32: Driver

    Slight

    Male, aged 47, car occupant, in vehicle 24 (Car)

  • Casualty 33: Passenger

    Serious

    Female, aged 76, car occupant, in vehicle 24 (Car)

    Car passenger
    Front seat passenger

  • Casualty 34: Passenger

    Serious

    Female, aged 21, car occupant, in vehicle 24 (Car)

    Car passenger
    Rear seat passenger

  • Casualty 35: Passenger

    Serious

    Female, aged 54, car occupant, in vehicle 24 (Car)

    Car passenger
    Rear seat passenger

  • Casualty 36: Driver

    Slight

    Male, aged 45, car occupant, in vehicle 25 (Car)

  • Casualty 37: Driver

    Fatal

    Male, aged 73, car occupant, in vehicle 26 (Car)

  • Casualty 38: Passenger

    Fatal

    Female, aged 70, car occupant, in vehicle 26 (Car)

    Car passenger
    Front seat passenger

  • Casualty 39: Driver

    Fatal

    Male, aged 38, goods vehicle occupant (7.5 tonnes and over), in vehicle 27 (Lorry)

  • Casualty 40: Driver

    Slight

    Male, aged 49, taxi or private hire car occupant, in vehicle 28 (Taxi)

  • Casualty 41: Passenger

    Serious

    Female, aged 50, taxi or private hire car occupant, in vehicle 28 (Taxi)

    Car passenger
    Front seat passenger

  • Casualty 42: Driver

    Serious

    Male, aged 46, goods vehicle occupant (7.5 tonnes and over), in vehicle 29 (Lorry)

  • Casualty 43: Passenger

    Fatal

    Male, aged 55, goods vehicle occupant (7.5 tonnes and over), in vehicle 29 (Lorry)

    Car passenger
    Front seat passenger

  • Casualty 44: Driver

    Fatal

    Male, aged 46, car occupant, in vehicle 30 (Car)

  • Casualty 45: Driver

    Slight

    Female, aged 42, van occupant, in vehicle 32 (Van)

  • Casualty 46: Passenger

    Slight

    Male, aged 44, van occupant, in vehicle 32 (Van)

    Car passenger
    Front seat passenger

  • Casualty 47: Passenger

    Slight

    Male, aged 7, van occupant, in vehicle 32 (Van)

    Car passenger
    Rear seat passenger

  • Casualty 48: Driver

    Slight

    Male, aged 40, car occupant, in vehicle 33 (Car)

  • Casualty 49: Passenger

    Serious

    Male, aged 11, car occupant, in vehicle 33 (Car)

    Car passenger
    Rear seat passenger

  • Casualty 50: Driver

    Slight

    Male, aged 31, car occupant, in vehicle 7 (Car)

  • Casualty 51: Driver

    Slight

    Male, aged 23, car occupant, in vehicle 31 (Car)

Data source

This record comes from the Department for Transport’s road safety data (STATS19), in which police forces in Great Britain record every road crash reported to them where someone was injured. It is reference 2011520104001 in the data published on GOV.UK under the Open Government Licence v3.0, and one of the crashes counted in the Somerset road accident statistics for 2011.