Man arrested for ‘abducting child’ after crash with police car closes M5 for 10 hours

Infant was in the vehicle at the time of the collision and suffered bruising but no serious injuries, police say

File image showing general view of part of the M5 motorway. (Matt Cardy/Getty Images)

A driver was arrested on suspicion of abducting a baby after he crashed into a police car, forcing the M5 to shut for 10 hours.

Avon and Somerset officers were chasing the wanted man’s car along the motorway on behalf of Staffordshire Police when the vehicles collided near Weston-super-Mare, causing the squad car to overturn.

A 27-year-old man, from Tamworth, was arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving relating to the collision, which happened near junction 21 of the northbound carriageway at about 9.40pm on Monday.

He was also arrested on suspicion of abducting a child under the age of one in connection to offences reported in Tamworth earlier that day, police revealed on Wednesday.

Staffordshire Police said the infant was inside the suspect’s car at the time of the crash and suffered bruising.

A police officer and the suspect were also hurt, but their injuries are not thought to be life-threatening.

The force said in a statement: “A man arrested on suspicion of assault and abduction in Staffordshire is being questioned by detectives.

“He was arrested following a collision between his car and a police car. A police officer and the suspect received injuries which are not believed to be life-threatening.

“A 27-year-old man from Tamworth was arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving relating to the M5 collision.

“He has was also arrested on suspicion of abduction of a child aged under one in connection with offences reported in Tamworth earlier that day. He remains in custody.

“The child was in the car at the time of the collision and suffered bruising but no serious injuries.”

The M5 was closed for 10 hours after a man crashed into a police car near Weston-super-Mare on 5 August 2019. (Highways England)

The crash caused traffic delays that lasted into Tuesday morning.

Highways England said it had to turn around 1,000 metres of standing traffic in the road before it was reopened before 8am.

Wells Conservative MP James Heappey, parliamentary private secretary to prime minister Boris Johnson, who was stuck on the M5 for four hours, described the police officers involved as “brave and utterly selfless”.

He tweeted: “Been stuck on M5 for last 4 hours just back from a big RTA. As the story breaks on what happened here, people will reflect on how brave & utterly selfless our police officers are.

“My thoughts are with those involved tonight & all their family & colleagues.”