M4 crash: Mother and daughter named as victims in tribute

The crash occurred at around 9am on Friday, October 20, with emergency services called to the eastbound carriageway between Junctions 17 for Chippenham and 18 for Bath. Five vehicles were involved in the collision which included a HGV and four cars. Two women, who were travelling in one of the vehicles, were pronounced dead at the scene.[1]

The pair have been named as mother and daughter Cheryl Woods, 61, and Sarha Smith, 40, of Caerphilly. Wiltshire Police released a family tribute to the two women on Tuesday morning. “Cheryl Woods, cherished by those in her life, fulfilled the roles of a loving mother, doting grandmother, cherished sister, and a dear friend,” it read.

“Her selflessness was a defining trait, consistently prioritising her family’s well-being over her own, and she took immense pride in her Welsh heritage while nurturing a deep love for nature. “Sarha Smith, in the footsteps of her mother, unselfishly devoted herself to her family’s needs ahead of her own. “She was not only a mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend, but her absence leaves a void for those who relied on her radiant presence.

“Her legacy lives on through her six daughters, who will forever hold her memory close and strive to honour her with their efforts.” The family have asked for privacy and a spokesperson for Wiltshire Police said that their thoughts are with them during this time. Two other people involved in the collision sustained minor injuries and were treated by paramedics at the scene.

In a video supplied to the Adver by an onlooker showed what seems to be an overturned HGV as well as a car. The eastbound carriageway remained closed for the rest of the day, whilst the westbound side of the road was closed for several hours. Roads Policing Unit A/Insp Will Ayres said at the time: “Due to the seriousness of the collision and the vehicles involved, the recovery work and investigation at the scene is likely to take a significant time and therefore the eastbound side of the motorway will remain closed well into this evening.”

A spokesperson for the South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT) said earlier on Friday: “We were called at 09:11hrs on Friday 20 October to a road traffic incident on the M4, Junction 18 Eastbound.

“We sent four double-crewed land ambulances, two hazardous area response teams, two tactical commanders, one operations officer, two critical care teams and one critical care car.

“Three patients were treated and discharged at the scene and one patient was conveyed by land to Great Western Hospital.”

References

1. ^ Two women, who were travelling in one of the vehicles, were pronounced dead at the scene. (www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk)