Three people killed in M5 crash

Three people were killed when a van crashed into a car after going through the central reservation on the M5, police have said.

A woman and a child, thought to be aged about 11, were also severely injured in the collision.

The motorway has been shut between junctions nine and 11 northbound, while the southbound carriageway is closed between junctions eight and nine.

The police say the closures are likely to last until Saturday afternoon.

A 100m (328ft) section of the central barrier was also destroyed by the crash and a major investigation is under way.

Vehicles damaged

A police spokesman said: "A Volkswagen van travelling southbound has gone through the central barrier and crossed into the northbound carriageway, where it collided with a Mitsubishi Colt."

He added that the occupants of the van and the male driver of the Mitsubishi were pronounced dead at the scene.

Beer barrels from the van spilled when it crashed and nine other vehicles were damaged in the accident, the spokesman said.

No-one else was injured.

Police said the first call reporting the accident came in shortly before 1930 BST.

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