A tragic incident unfolded on the M5 motorway last night, resulting in the death of an 18-year-old man. The young man exited an ambulance that had stopped to provide further treatment while en route to the hospital. This occurred on the northbound carriageway between junctions 21 (Weston-super-Mare) and 20 (Clevedon).

At approximately 11.04pm, the ambulance service alerted the police that a patient had left the vehicle. Shortly after, the man was reported to be on the motorway. An on-duty police officer arrived at the scene and attempted to bring the man to safety, aiming to protect him and other road users.

Unfortunately, the situation took a devastating turn when the young man was struck by a southbound car. Emergency services were on hand, but despite their efforts, he was pronounced dead at the scene. Family members have been informed and are receiving support from a specially trained liaison officer.

Avon and Somerset Police confirmed the incident, stating, "A man has sadly died after a collision on the M5 on Sunday night. The patient, an 18-year-old man, was subsequently reported to be on the motorway."

Assistant Chief Constable Joanne Hall expressed condolences, saying, "Our thoughts are with the man's family at such a devastating time. We will support them in any way we can. This incident has had a significant effect on our officers and ambulance crews who are understandably incredibly upset by what happened."

In addition to supporting the family, the police are ensuring that welfare arrangements are in place for their staff and for those who witnessed the incident. A mandatory referral has been made to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), which has initiated an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the collision.

The motorway was closed for emergency services to respond and conduct inquiries, but it has since reopened this morning.