DRIVERS had a lucky escape when a 28-tonne lorry crashed across up to five lanes of the M5 without injuring a single person.

The truck was about a mile past Junction 7, at Whittington, when it weaved over the southbound carriageway, plough-ed through the central reservation and crossed the three northbound lanes on the opposite side.

It came to a stop on the hard shoulder with its tail embedded in the road after it pitched up an embankment.

Two lanes on each side of the central reservation were closed while it was repaired and traffic built up on the motorway following the incident, at about 1.30pm yesterday, which is thought to have started when the driver fell ill at the wheel.

"It was nothing too serious although it had the potential to be so.

"Fortunately, he hit no one and was not injured himself," said Sgt Andrew Moss of the central motorway police group.

The driver, whose identity has not been revealed, was taken to hospital following the incident.

No update on his condition was available as the Evening News went to press today.