Five people have been injured and one airlifted to hospital after a three-vehicle collision on the M49 in Bristol this afternoon.
The crash happened on the southbound side of the motorway - which connects the M4 at the Prince of Wales Bridge with the M5 at Avonmouth - at around 4.15pm today, Friday, May 13.
All three emergency services attended the incident, and five people were treated for their injuries. Firefighters also had to deal with a large fuel spillage.
Updates: M49 closed after five injured in multi-vehicle crash
There is no update yet on the severity of the injuries of the five people hurt, but the air ambulance was called and attended the scene. The M49 motorway was closed in both directions for around two hours.
A spokesperson for Avon and Somerset Police confirmed at around 6pm: "We received a call at 4.17pm today (Friday 13 May) from the ambulance service following reports of a three-vehicle collision on the M49. We arrived at the scene at 4.32pm. There are five people believed to be injured and the air ambulance has attended. The motorway is currently closed southbound between junction 22 of the M4, and junction 18 of the M5."
The northbound side of the M49 was reopened at around 6.15pm and 'trapped traffic' that was behind the crash scene was able to continue on towards the M4. Highways England then said motorists caught within the closure on the southbound side were allowed to go past the scene of the incident, and continue on to Avonmouth and the M5. But Highways England said the southbound side of the M49 was expected to continue to be closed 'for the remainder of the day'.
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