M5 lorry-car crash leaves drivers queuing for 90 MINUTES as oil cleared up | Devon Live
Drivers have been stuck in traffic on the motorway in Devon throughout the day
13:11, 16 May 2026Updated 13:16, 16 May 2026
Queues on the M5 southbound after crash (file image)(Image: National Highways )
Drivers are stuck in delays of 90 minutes on the motorway
- There are miles of queuing traffic on the M5 in Devon after a lorry and two cars crashed, spilling oil onto the motorway.
- The incident was reported at around 11am today (Saturday, May 16) near junction 31 southbound. There is around four miles worth of congestion, up to junction 29.
- A spokesperson for Devon and Cornwall Police said the scene had been handed over to National Highways, which is working on clearing up the oil spill.
- In a social media post at around 11.30am, National Highways said: “Lanes 2 and 3 (of 3) are closed on the #M5 southbound between J30 and J31 due to a large oil spillage. Contractors are en route. There are delays of 60 minutes and 3 miles of congestion on the approach. Please allow extra time for your journey.”
- Delays are now at around 90 minutes, with more congestion to roads in and around Exeter as traffic diverts.
- There are also slight delays northbound as drivers slow to look at the incident.
- Traffic monitor Inrix reports: “Queueing traffic for four miles and two lanes closed due to oil spillage and accident, a lorry and two cars involved on M5 Southbound before J31 A38 ( Okehampton turn off). Congestion to J29 (Exeter / Honiton ). All surrounding routes through Exeter City Centre are seeing long delays as traffic avoids the ongoing M5 problems. Also slow on the opposite side due to onlookers.”
- Check out our live blog for more traffic updates this afternoon.
Choose Devon Live as a ‘Preferred Source’ on Google News for quick access to the news you value.
At Reach and across our entities we and our partners use information collected through cookies and other identifiers from your device to improve experience on our site, analyse how it is used and to show personalised advertising. You can opt out of the sale or sharing of your data, at any time clicking the “Do Not Sell or Share my Data” button at the bottom of the webpage. Please note that your preferences are browser specific. Use of our website and any of our services represents your acceptance of the use of cookies and consent to the practices described in our Privacy Notice and Terms and Conditions.
Accept
