The M5 has reopened between junctions 8 and 9 southbound, after two linked collisions took place during the early hours of this morning (Thursday, June 2nd)

Police are carrying out a full collision investigation, but they believe that the incident involved five vehicles and it started when a Ford Mondeo and an MG Rover were in collision about half a mile south of the M50 junction at 1.05am.

An HGV then stopped and was involved in a collision with a silver Mercedes and black Mazda.

The 24-year-old Gloucester man, who was driving the Mercedes died at the scene, while a 23-year-old Gloucester man who was a passenger in the vehicle also died. Another passenger in the Mercedes, a 23-year-old Gloucester man, was taken to Queen Elizabeth Hospital and remains in a critical condition, while the final passenger of the Mercedes, another 23-year-old Gloucester man, remains in a critical condition in Southmead Hospital.

A man who was a passenger in the Mazda and a man who was driving the Mondeo were taken to Gloucestershire Royal Hospital. Both are believed to have suffered injuries that are not life threatening.

Anyone who witnessed the collision or has any information but hasn’t yet spoken to police should call 101 and quote incident 17 of 2 June.