A caravan travelling as part of a convoy defying warnings not to travel to the south west for the Easter Holidays crashed on the M5 yesterday (April 9) causing a huge pile-up, delays and a dog to run loose on the motorway just outside Tiverton.
Three people have since been arrested and the crash led to two lanes being closed southbound on the M5 after emergency services were called to the incident on the Devon and Somerset border.
The news was met with fury at those involved for failing to listen to repeated calls for people to stay at home.
Devon and Cornwall Police said: "Police were called to the M5 between junction 26-27 southbound at around 1.30pm with reports that a caravan was on its side with the car still attached.
"Reports suggest it was part of a convoy of caravans.
"Report that two lanes were blocked and a dog was loose."
An eyewitness described the moment a caravan lost control and crashed into a lorry before a dog inside escaped into oncoming traffic.
Paul Martin, a builder from Taunton, was just outside Tiverton in his van following what he described as a 'convoy of caravans' which he believed to be travellers heading towards Exeter.
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He claims one of the caravans collided with a lorry before hitting the central reservation - an accident which saw two of the lanes closed off.
"They were very lucky to escape with their lives," Paul said. "It could have been so much worse.
"I was following one of the caravans - I think they were travellers heading towards Exeter - and one of them was behind a lorry.
"It pulled out to overtake but hit the side of the lorry.
"When that happened, it split the caravan open and a dog bounded out. I managed to catch the dog and put him back in the car.
"The dog then managed to escape again and ran onto the other carriageway into oncoming traffic but I managed to catch it again.
"It could have been a lot worse. If they had gone over the central reservation when they crashed or someone had swerved to avoid the dog on the other carriageway, it could have been really nasty."
Paul spent about 25 minutes at the scene blocking off two of the lanes with his van to ensure no traffic hit the damaged vehicles.
He said there was not much traffic on the motorway due to the ongoing travel restrictions caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
The incident just before 3.30pm yesterday (Wed) provoked an angry reaction on social media, with furious comments directed at tourists who appear to be ignoring pleas to stay away from tourist and second-home hotpots in Devon and Cornwall.
On Twitter, the Office of Police & Crime Commissioner said: "@DC_Police, local authorities, tourism boards & partner agencies is clear - now is not the time to be visiting #Devon & #Cornwall, please #ComeBacklater!"
Also on Twitter, William Davies said: "If they were coming here on holiday, take their caravan away and crush it, don't let the insurance pay out and fine them £10,000. Send a message to people that this is unacceptable."
Jamie Sheehan said: "The caravan driver should be arrested for breaking lockdown rules."
Natasha Carthew said: "Seriously? A convoy of Caravans?"
And Liskeard Town Councillor Simon Cassidy said: "Seriously when will people start listening....."
Meanwhile, on Facebook, one reader said raged: "Can I speak for most of us here in Cornwall when I say, GO HOME YOUR NOT WELCOME."
Another commented: "If it was up to me, for anyone coming down to stay in Cornwall, the police would knock on their caravan door, fine them £1000 per person (including for any minors) and advise them to go back where they came from. This should be an on the spot fine, failure to pay resulting in 14 days quarantine at her Majesty's pleasure. If they do pay but do not heed notice to leave, this should be repeated daily. "
"The police should stop everyone of them and fine them and send them back home," said another.
While someone else fumed: "WE DONT WANT YOU IN DEVON."
