Crash closes motorway in both directions in Devon

The M5 was closed in both directions

Two people are seriously injured after a crash on a motorway in Devon, police have said.

Devon and Cornwall Police said they received reports of the incident near Junction 29 of the M5 near Exeter at about 14:25 BST on Friday.

The northbound carriageway remains closed, but one lane southbound has reopened.

Officers said two people have been taken to hospital with serious injuries.

Emergency services including police, fire, ambulance and the air ambulance, have been in attendance.

National Highways said small vehicles caught within the closure were being turned around from the rear of the queue and southbound traffic was set to be released past the scene in lane one shortly.

A statement from the police said: "It was reported that a car travelling on the southbound carriageway lost a tyre. It was further reported that the tyre collided with a vehicle travelling on the northbound carriageway.

"The driver of the car travelling south was checked by ambulance at the scene but did not require hospital treatment.

"The two occupants of the car travelling north have been taken to hospital with serious injuries."

Ch Insp Simon Jenkinson said the road closures had caused a "significant level of travel disruption".

“The initial priority for emergency services is to deal with the incident itself and tend to the casualties to ensure that they receive timely and appropriate care," he said.

The police said inquiries will be carried out to establish the full circumstances of the incident before the road can be reopened.