Avon and Somerset police said officers were sent to an address in Norton Fitzwarren, near Taunton, at around 4.40pm on Sunday (September 10) following a report that a man was making threats to a person living there and had caused damage to the property. Norton Fitzwarren is home to the 40 Commando Royal Marines and the RM Norton Manor Camp.
Police say that when officers arrived, the man left the address in a large military truck. Police said he then drove the vehicle into two police cars blocking the road, causing them extensive damage.
No-one was hurt during the incident, the force said. Footage from the incident reportedly shows the truck drive though the road block, knocking a large police vehicle out of its way. After driving through the road block, the truck then hits a parked car and a signpost before the video ends.
In a statement released late on Sunday night (September 10), Avon and Somerset police said: “The man subsequently drove to the A361 M5 overbridge where he exited the vehicle and climbed over the railings, leading the motorway to be closed in both directions.
“The man was arrested 25 minutes later and he currently remains in police custody.”
However, earlier that evening, The National Police Air Service (NPAS) revealed that quick-thinking lorry drivers parked their HGVs underneath an overbridge on the M5 at around 5.20pm.
In a post on X, the social media website formerly know as twitter, an NPAS spokesperson said: “We have deployed our Exeter aircraft to assist @ASPolice with a person in crisis on the #M5 at #Taunton. Excellent intervention by officers on scene means male is now safe. Fantastic to see #HGV drivers offering to help with their lorries to safeguard the person – thank you.”
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