THE woman who died in the M5 accident this morning has been identified and her next of kin informed.

Police are still not officially naming her.

Details of the full horror of the crash, which has left two other people with life-threatening injuries and a total of ten casualties needing hospital treatment, are beginning to emerge.

Insp Darren Jarvis said the four-car smash happened just after 6.20am.

Somerset County Gazette:

Insp Darren Jarvis.

He said: "Four vehicles were involved in the road traffic collision.

"As a result of that, two people in one vehicle are in a life-threatening condition.

"The driver of one of the other vehicles exited her vehicle and was struck by multiple vehicles and died."

The woman's body was recovered from the southbound carriageway.

The two seriously injured casualties were airlifted to Southmead Hospital, in Bristol.

The other injured people are being treated at Taunton's Musgrove Park Hospital.

Somerset County Gazette:

Insp Jarvis praised the "massive effort" of all three emergency services, with "upwards of 40" members of the police, fire and ambulance services involved.

The incident took place on the northbound carriageway of the M5 under Stoke Bridge, near Stoke St Mary.

Forensic experts and evidence gathering officers are currently at the scene.

Insp Jarvis added: "We haven't yet identified every vehicles that came into contact with the deceased.

"We are issuing a plea for anybody that travelled through the area at that time and who may have been involved without realising it to contact police on 101."

The M5 both ways between Junctions 25 and 26 remains closed. It is unknown when it will re-open, but motorists are being warned it could be closed into tomorrow.