A419 to stay closed ‘late into the night’ after teenager dies in crash

A busy junction off the M4 is expected to remain closed into the night after a fatal crash which followed a police pursuit. A teenage boy died at the scene of the collision on the A419 in Swidon shortly before 11pm on Tuesday, January 2, after a Vauxhall Astra crashed with the roundabout at junction 15 with the M4. Three other people in the car, who sustained minor injuries, have been arrested and are in police custody, Wiltshire Police has said.

Formal identification has not yet taken place but the force said one of the occupants, believed to be a teenage male, died at the scene.[1] The A419 is still closed in both directions today[2] (January 3) between the A4259 Commonhead Roundabout at Swindon and junction 15 of the M4, National Highways has said. The M4 eastbound exit and entry slip roads are also shut while police investigations continue.

The junction is expected to be closed into the night, Highways added. National Highways said: "Once complete, recovery of the vehicles will take place and there has also been substantial damage to the safety barrier. The road will be closed throughout the evening peak traffic and is unlikely to open before the early hours of the morning.

Motorists have been advised to allow extra time for journeys in the area. Traffic is being diverted around the crash via sign posts. Read on below for the full diversion route.

Wiltshire Police said the crash took place following a police pursuit and has referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), which will investigate the incident. Three people have been arrested and remain in police custody. A male in his 20s, was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.

The two other individuals, both female and in their 20s, were arrested on suspicion of taking a vehicle without consent.

A419 diversion route

Road users are advised to follow the hollow circle diversion symbol on road signs if heading northbound.

• From the A436 Northbound take 1st exit at M4 J15 roundabout onto M4 signedBristol M4.
• At M4 J16 exit slip roundabout take 4th exit onto Great Western Way signed SwindonA3102.
• At Blagrove roundabout take 2nd exit on to Great Western Way signed Town CentreA3102.
• At Mannington roundabout take 2nd exit onto Great Western Way signed GreatWestern.
• At The Meads roundabout take 2nd exit onto Great Western Way signed BarnfieldB4006.
• At Barnfield roundabout take 2nd exit onto Great Western Way signed GreatWestern.
• At Bruce Street Bridges 1st roundabout take 1st exit signed Cheney Manor.
• At Bruce Street Bridges 2nd roundabout take 2nd exit signed North Star B4289.
• At Bruce Street Bridges 3rd roundabout take 1st exit onto Great Western.
• At North Star roundabout take 2nd exit onto Great Western Way signed Gorse Hill.
• At Cockleberry 1st roundabout take 2nd exit signed Swindon Centre (M4 East).At Cockleberry 2nd roundabout take 2nd exit onto Great Western Way signed SwindonCentre (M4 East).
• At Transfer Bridges 1st roundabout take 3rd exit signed A4289.
• At Transfer Bridges 2nd roundabout take 2nd exit onto Ocotal Way signed SwindonCentre.
• At Colbourne roundabout take 1st exit onto Ocotal Way signed Through Traffic.
• At Wills roundabout take 2nd exit onto Ocotal Way signed Oxford A420.
• At junction turn right onto Drakes Way signed Motorway M4.
• At Drakes roundabout take 1st exit onto Queens Drive signed Walcot E A4259.At Coate roundabout take 3rd exit onto Marlborough Road signed MarlboroughA4259.
• At Commonhead roundabout take 4th exit signed Motorway M4.

Road users are advised to follow the hollow triangle diversion symbol on road signs if heading southbound.

• From the Commonhead Southbound exit slip take the 4th exit at the Commonhead roundabout onto Marlborough road signed Swindon A4259.
• At Coate Roundabout take 3rd exit onto Queens Drive signed town centre A4259.
• At Drakes roundabout take 2nd exit onto Drakes Way signed Burford
• At junction turn left onto Ocotal Way signed Gorse Hill A4313
• At Wills Roundabout take 2nd exit onto Ocotal way signed Cirencester (A419)
• At Colbourne Roundabout take 3rd exit signed Gorse Hill
• At transfer bridges 1st roundabout take 3rd exit signed Gorse Hill (A419)
• At transfer bridges 2nd roundabout take 1st exit onto Great Western Way signed North Star
• At Cocklebury 1st roundabout take 2nd exit signed West Swindon B4289
• At Cocklebury 2nd roundabout take 2nd exit onto Great Western Way signed Oasis
• At North Star roundabout take 2nd exit onto Great Western Way signed Great Western (M4 West)
• At the Bruce Street Bridges 1st roundabout take 1st exit signed West Swindon B4006
• At the Bruce Street Bridges 2nd roundabout take 3rd exit signed West Swindon B4006
• At the Bruce Street Bridges 3rd roundabout take 2nd exit onto Great Western Way signed West Swindon B4006
• At Barnfield roundabout take 2nd exit onto Great Western Way signed Toothill (M4)
• At The Meads roundabout take 2nd exit onto Great Western Way signed Town Centre B4006
• At Mannington roundabout take 2nd exit onto Great Western Way signed Wooton Bassett A3102
• At Blagrove roundabout take 2nd exit onto Great Western Way signed Wooton Bassett A3102
• At Spittleborough M4 Junction 16 roundabout take 1st exit onto the M4 signed London M4

References

1. ^ one of the occupants, believed to be a teenage male, died at the scene. (www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk)
2. ^ A419 is still closed in both directions today (www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk)