People living in the communities close to where last night’s motorway pileup happened were struggling to come to terms with the devastation today.
Some have speculated that an annual firework display at a nearby rugby club may have distracted drivers.
The club’s ground is next to the M5 where the incident happened and the display was taking place at the time.
A nearby smallholding also had a large bonfire which was generating smoke.
Police investigators are searching for clues today which might hint at what caused the fatal pile-up. Josie Gallimore (60) and husband Brian (61) live near the scene in a cottage in Hyde Lane.
They learned of the devastating collision from neighbours and walked the few minutes to Hyde Lane bridge from their home.
The bridge overlooks the motorway and gave them a clear view of the crash scene involving dozens of mangled vehicles.
“It was about 11.30pm and there were helicopters and fire engines and a lot of noise,” said Mrs Gallimore.
“We didn’t stay long because it was too disturbing. You could hear the cries of the little ones trapped in their cars.
“They had to remain in their cars with their families and apparently some were there for up to three and a half hours.
“We walked back home afterwards and we could hear the sirens going until about 2am. There were helicopters as well.
“I didn’t sleep last night. I couldn’t. It’s a terrible tragedy.” Neighbour Sylvia Ackland (73) said: “I heard a loud bang and saw black smoke in the sky but thought that it was fireworks.
“My daughter was out at the rugby club and saw something of what was going on. She said it was horrific. There were children screaming but they could not get out and some wanted to.”
She said in addition to the rugby club’s firework display there was also a large bonfire in a nearby field.
Pete Martin, of Creech St Michael, walked to the Hyde Lane bridge with his wife this morning to gaze at the crash scene.
Like many others he believed the noise, smoke and flashing lights in the sky he saw last night were part of a firework display.
He said that while it was not possible to say the club’s firework display contributed to the accident, it could have been a distraction to drivers.
“We heard this bang and thought that it was fireworks going off but now we do not know,” he said.
PA