Boy seriously injured after being hit by multiple cars on M5

The motorway was closed in both directions near Oldbury for around three hours as a result of the incident which happened at around 11.20am today.

The boy, who witnesses said appeared to be in his early teens, was on foot when he was hit and has been taken to Birmingham Children's Hospital.

It is not yet clear how the boy came to be on the carriageway. Police officers were seen recovering a push bike from near the motorway.

An air ambulance was sent but the boy was taken to hospital by land ambulance after being treated at the scene.

The motorway was shut in both directions next to Junction 2 for Oldbury as collision investigators examined the scene.

There were lengthy delays until the road reopened shortly before 3pm.

Photos taken at the scene showed a silver car left with damage, while a lorry and another car had also stopped nearby.

Traffic trapped directly behind the incident was allowed past the scene before the road was fully closed for the police investigation.

Both northbound and southbound traffic was diverted around junctions 2 and 3 via Birchley Island on the A456 and A4123 during the closure, which caused around three miles of tailbacks.

Paramedics from the Hazardous Area Response Team were sent along with an ambulance, the Midlands Air Ambulance Critical Care Car, two paramedic officers and the Midlands Air Ambulance from Cosford, with a doctor on board.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman, said: “The boy was on foot at the time of the incident.

“He has suffered serious injuries. He was assessed and treated at the scene before being taken on blue lights to Birmingham Children’s Hospital; the doctor from the air ambulance travelled with the boy to hospital.

“There were no other patients.”

West Midlands Police said enquiries are at an early stage but have urged anyone with information to contact them online or by calling 101 quoting log number 1469 of August 5.