Police: We were right to close M5
Avon and Somerset police is standing by its decision to close half of the Avonmouth Bridge during an incident which ended with a man plunging 100ft to his death.
Drivers left stranded on the M5 have attacked the decision to close the entire northbound carriageway over the bridge during the incident on Friday, which led to tailbacks of more than 30 miles at the start of one of the busiest weekends of the year.
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Rescuers try in vain to convince a Bristol man not to jump
A Bristol man in his 50s, who has not yet been named, plunged to his death after six-and-a-half hours perched on a lamppost base on the outside edge of the bridge on Friday, as police officers tried to persuade him to come back over the safety fence.
But shortly after 7.30pm, he plunged into the River Avon after apparently jumping from the spot where he had perched. Since the incident, the Evening Post has received scores of website comments, many of which have called into question whether all four lanes of the carriageway should have been closed.
One of the posters, Wendy Miller, of Bristol, said: "I think that the police should reassess how they deal with situations like these. To close down the main motorway on a bank holiday weekend is just unacceptable.
"I am sure there were other options; screens could have been erected and allowed at least two lanes to remain open.
"The police could have kept the traffic flowing by telling rubber-neckers to keep moving. Surely in this day and age we have the technology and emergency services not to bring the road networks to a complete standstill?"
Mike Hancox said: "I am sure I will be one of many who would just like an explanation as to why all lanes had to be closed on such a wide bridge?"
People stuck on the M5 reported missing flights from Bristol International Airport, missing appointments and even a wedding, although other readers criticised those who complained at the delays while the police were dealing with a life- or-death incident.
Yesterday the police insisted the decision to shut all four lanes of the northbound carriageway was not taken lightly. Force spokesman Simon Whitby said: "The welfare of this man, coupled with the safety of emergency services personnel at the scene, and concerns for other road users who were becoming distracted by the incident, prompted police to close the M5 northbound.
"Decisions to enforce significant road closures are not taken lightly by the force, and are only taken in cases where there is considerable risk to life or safety."
Police had been alerted just before 1pm to reports of a "vulnerable man" on the crest of the bridge. At 2pm, they shut the northbound carriageway between junctions 19 and 18, from Gordano to Avonmouth. The closure was later extended to junction 21 at Weston-super-Mare, with stranded drivers turned around and diverted on to neighbouring A-roads. Southbound, the exit slip road at junction 19 was closed, adding to the hold-ups.
Traffic queued as far back as Bridgwater on the northbound M5 as officers tried in vain to talk the man out of jumping.
Families were stuck for hours with no food or drink, although the Highways Agency tried to provide some of them with water. Three of the four northbound lanes were reopened just after 8pm.
The incident has been referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission.
Assistant Chief Constable John Long said: "While many motorists were understandably frustrated and angry about the disruption and delays to their journey, the safety of everyone concerned was the paramount priority. We are grateful to those motorists, their families, friends and everyone else who has been affected by this tragic incident, for their patience and co-operation."
An inquest into the man's death will be opened by the coroner's court this week.
128 Comments
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by Adrian, Bristol
Friday, September 04 2009, 6:25PM
“Elaine WsM,
Please get some perspective! No-one who reaches the stage this man did has any comprehension of their actions. The deepest levels of depression and stress are an illness which has little or no cure. If you've missed your friend so much why didn't you save up £10 a week for the return flight to Austrailia, and you could probably have been over there twice at least by now. Yes, the police messed it up, but don't take it out on this poor man and the memories his family will have of him. You are very selfish and unkind.”
by Londoner, in the west
Friday, September 04 2009, 9:12AM
“"inadequate misfit.
Why don't you scoot off back down the tube if Bristol's so far behind ?...."
Yes, but that's hardly going to help Bristol, is it? If you left it to places like Bristol to generate the country's revenue, well, we'll all be in extreme poverty...or stuck, just like the traffic.
Thanks for the expected yokel response.”
by David Martin, Bristol
Friday, September 04 2009, 7:43AM
“The M5 closure decision may have been flawed and is certainly debatable. What is not in question is that the police failed utterly to mitigate or manage the consequence of their actions. They have form on this and I eagerly await the day that an enterprising solicitor initiates a class action by a few thousand people for stress and economic loss. At the very least this might lead to a radical review of police procedures.”
by Elaine, WsM
Friday, September 04 2009, 12:35AM
“I am still so angry at being stuck in my car for 7.5 hours on what should have been a 20 min drive from Weston to Westbury for a friends wedding. We were to be surprise guests for my friend Maggie who was over from Australia after emigrating 48 years ago when she was 11 and I was 10. After all the planning and excitement, can you imagine how everyone was feeling. In this day and age the police ought to have spring loaded screening toerect around incidents such as these. I know it was vey tragic, but we all have our problems within our familes and some of us have been touched by much the same as this. BUT the M5 should have been kept open. I know this man will never see another day and I can certainly never have this day again. The man was a selfish, attention seeking waste of space. Sorry if you don't like it. Some suicides I can understand, but this man knew he was causing chaos chaos and didn't give a damn.”
by Bob, South Bristol
Thursday, September 03 2009, 6:02PM
“The police have decided to treat every road incident as a "crime scene". They don't give a somethings wotsit for the aggravation and inconvenience they cause. I think it may be a hidden government policy, it's certainly a police policy. Many police have lost sight of the fact that they are there to serve the public. Not politicians, Not themselves, The public.”
by City Dweller, Bristol
Thursday, September 03 2009, 1:20PM
“Londoner - Cor blimey guvnor, ain't you just the bloomin bee's knees!
Inadequate misfit.
Why don't you scoot off back down the tube if Bristol's so far behind ?”
by sean bhurt, bristol
Thursday, September 03 2009, 1:09PM
“Well nothing new then .of course the police has to stand by their decision what else can they do since they dont feel obliged to justify their actions to the members of public who were stuck that day . just put up with it or shut up this is the way things are . was their action proportionate to the severity of the incident no one will never know since we dont even know what the procedures are and dont expect the authorities to explain it because most of time thier reply is "no comments" .
if this time its justified by reasons given in the article then i would like the authorities to explain what if the guy did not jump around 7 pm let say he was going to stay till the next day .? what would they have done.
so the idea was to stop the traffic and divert throughout bristol then making the whole city roads unsafe with lots of drivers not knowing where they heading . so this was a better option according to the police . it would be interesting to know how many accidents happened during that time in or around the roads of bristol .”
by Londoner, in the west
Thursday, September 03 2009, 12:27PM
“"......Decisions to enforce significant road closures are not taken lightly by the force, and are only taken in cases where there is considerable risk to life or safety......."
In my experience, the police are skilled at getting people out of most situations, such as motorway holdups, specially when emergency medical attention is needed. last time I saw this, a helicopter was deployed.
Most west country people are car-dependents and addicts. That is surely a sign of backwardness when the rest of us can get about using alternatives? As far as I remember, there were no major traffic issues in London, despite thousands of things going on....and about a quarter of the population heading out of the city. This is because there are public transport alternatives. The west country is about a century behind. Your traffic problems will continue.”
by Richard, Bath
Thursday, September 03 2009, 11:25AM
“What an ill-informed and pointless comment from ¿Londoner¿ this man may have been in distress but what about the people with medical conditions who were trapped on the motorway for a completely unreasonable period of time? I take it that that this poster has inside knowledge that no harm was done to these people by the police decision to close the motorway and basically make the travellers fend for themselves without any consideration as to their welfare. I for one am thoroughly sick of reading of the pious compassion for this sick individual and of the lack of concern for the vast majority affected by the ¿knee jerk¿ reaction of the police.”
by Londoner, in the west
Thursday, September 03 2009, 9:42AM
“Far too dependent on cars, but then that's the west country...
A man was in a very distressed state. Concern for his life was more important than that of motorists.
Next time, use alternatives, such as rail. I realise public transport is extremely backward in the west, but it's a lot better than being stuck in traffic jams. When will you learn?”