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<\/p>\nA potato\u00a0lorry crash forced a busy motorway to close for 12 hours while 22 tonnes of potatoes had to be cleared away by hand.<\/p>\n
Drivers heading to the south-west on the M5 were caught up in an unusual Christmas delay with the huge mounds of potatoes covering the southbound carriageway.<\/p>\n
Closures were in place yesterday in Devon between J28 (Cullompton) and J29 (Exeter) southbound, after the lorry overturned at around 8am.<\/p>\n
All three lanes were affected, as the roasting potatoes – spilled out onto the road.<\/p>\n
These were picked up largely by hand, by police officers and highways teams, with as much as possible being salvaged and given to a local charity.<\/p>\n
One person was hurt but no serious injuries were reported according to Devon and Cornwall Police.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
A potato lorry crash forced a busy motorway to close for 12 hours<\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2023\/12\/21\/10\/79208411-12889339-image-a-6_1703154460545.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Drivers heading to the south-west on the M5 were caught up in an unusual Christmas delay with the huge mounds of potatoes covering the southbound carriageway<\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2023\/12\/21\/10\/79208413-12889339-image-a-8_1703154487463.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Closures were in place yesterday in Devon between J28 (Cullompton) and J29 (Exeter) southbound, after the lorry overturned at around 8am<\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2023\/12\/21\/10\/79208397-12889339-image-a-7_1703154484096.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
They\u00a0were picked up largely by hand, by police officers and highways teams, with as much as possible being salvaged and given to a local charity<\/p>\n
Speaking at the time, Sgt Owen Jones said ‘It’s blocking all three lanes and the hard shoulder.<\/p>\n
‘We’re working hard to get it recovered but unfortunately 22 tonnes of loose potatoes are causing us quite some problems.<\/p>\n
‘It’s hindering recovery at the moment.<\/p>\n
‘We’ve got quite a few officers coming from various parts of the force to give us a hand unloading these potatoes before we can complete recovery.’<\/p>\n
Devon and Cornwall Police Roads Policing Team shared a picture of some of their officers collecting the potatoes while the operation was on-going and wrote: ‘Despite our efforts the M5S remains shut whilst we empty 22 tons of potatoes mainly by hand!\u00a0<\/p>\n
‘We are rescuing as many as possible for charity!’<\/p>\n
It was earlier extended to J27 (Tiverton) also, to allow traffic to be turned around, but has since reduced again to just the single junction.<\/p>\n
The closure was described as ‘complex’ with the road finally re-opening at 8pm last night – 12 hours after the crash.<\/p>\n