Police seek cyclist who may have witnessed teenage girl's motorway bridge fall

Police in Somerset have appealed for a cyclist to come forward whom they believe may have information regarding a teenage girl’s fall from a motorway bridge yesterday lunchtime.

The 17-year-old was taken to hospital with serious leg injuries following the incident, which happened on the Court Lane bridge across the M5 near Clevedon at 12.40pm on Friday 30 December.

Officers believe a white woman aged around 40 and wearing a hi-visibility vest may have cycled across the bridge shortly beforehand.

"We believe she may be able to assist our enquiries into the incident,” said a spokeswoman for Avon & Somerset Constabulary.

She added: "We would like her, or anyone recognising her description, to contact police in North Somerset on 101, quoting reference 5216288018."

Motorist Benjamin Quinn told the Bristol Post that he had seen a male cyclist speak to a woman on the bridge at around 12.35pm.

He said: "I was driving, but my wife noticed a blonde, curly-haired woman on the bridge, the north side after the turning to get on to the motorway.

"She was pacing (wandering up and down) and looking over the edge. A male cyclist stopped by her and started to talk to her.

“The only thing my wife noted was he was wearing the standard neon cycling jacket.”

Mr Quinn added: "Hope she recovers soon."