Man falls to death on M5 motorway

Jun 23 2010 by Sophie Cross, Birmingham Mail

A MAN has died after he fell from a road onto the M5 motorway near Halesowen.

The victim was struck by a van travelling along the northbound carriageway near to Junction 3 at around 4.30pm on Sunday.

The driver of the van was uninjured but had to be treated by ambulance crews for shock.

Police immediately closed off the motorway in both directions and were last night still trying to establish the dead man’s identity.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said an ambulance, a rapid response vehicle and Incident Support Officer attended the scene but were unable to save the man.

He said: “Crews found a man that is believed to have fallen from a road that runs over the motorway and been in collision with a van that was travelling along the M5.

“It quickly became apparent that nothing could be done to save the man and he was confirmed dead at the scene. The man driving the van was treated at the scene by ambulance crews for the effects of shock. The man did not require hospital treatment.”

The M5 was closed off at junction 3, joining the A456 Halesowen.

There were traffic delays of up to half an hour as vehicles were diverted down and under the junction via the exit and entry slips, in both directions.

The incident caused congestion between junction 4, Lydiate Ash to junction 2, Oldbury.