M4 traffic: All we know about series of crashes on motorway
On Saturday, March 23 at around 3.15pm, 13 vehicles were involved in a pile-up between junctions 14 and 15 near Swindon[1].
One person had to be cut from their car by fire service and the route was shut so an air ambulance could land between junction 14 and 15 westbound.
One witness said: “It was the shower of ice and panic driving. I was sliding around and came in contact with a massive puddle of ice basically but luckily had decent tyres and skill to control it.
“I knew there would be more accidents.”
Nobody was seriously hurt, while three people were treated by paramedics at the scene, with non-life-threatening injuries.
It came hours after a one-vehicle crash earlier that day near Chippenham[2] attended by three fire engines.
But on Tuesday evening the M4 was shut for five hours after a serious crash involving a car and a lorry[3].
Police confirmed the following day a seven-year-old boy had died[4].
Emergency services rushed to the scene of a crash between a Scania lorry and a VW Polo on the westbound carriageway of the motorway near Wiltshire, at around 1pm.
The M4 was closed in both directions for several hours between Bath and Bristol while police and an air ambulance worked at the scene.
The westbound carriageway remained shut until around 7.30pm, causing heavy traffic throughout the day from Bristol to Chippenham.
Four other occupants of the car were hospitalised and two have now been discharged.
Investigations remain ongoing.
A spokesperson for the force said: “Despite the best efforts of emergency services, tragically a seven-year-old boy died at the scene.
“Our thoughts are with his family and they continue to be supported by a specially-trained officer.
“Four other people, who were also in the car, were taken to hospital with injuries that are not thought to be life-threatening or life-changing. Two have since been discharged.
“We are appealing for witnesses to come forward. If you saw the incident or have any dashcam footage which could help, please call 101 and quote reference 5224077629.”
Emergency services including an air ambulance were called to the scene while drivers were trapped for several hours.
There were long queues throughout the evening rush hour and beyond stretching as far as Chippenham as drivers exited in Wiltshire to follow diversion routes.
Roads around Chippenham and the A420 were much busier than usual.
On Wednesday morning a suspected drink driver was arrested after two crashes caused further delays[5] on the carriageway.
A total of three cars, including a BMW, were reported by the AA to be involved in two separate incidents.
A police spokesperson said: “The initial incident was quickly resolved, however, shortly after this, a second collision took place.
“One of the drivers involved in this incident was arrested on suspicion of drink driving and taken to custody in Swindon[6].”
A spokesman for Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service said: “We were called to the M4 eastbound between J17 and J17 at 8.23am this morning (27 March) after a car collided with the central reservation.
“Two crews from Chippenham attended but no-one was trapped and no action from us was needed, so our stop was at 8.51am and we have now left the scene.”
References
- ^ 13 vehicles were involved in a pile-up between junctions 14 and 15 near Swindon (www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk)
- ^ one-vehicle crash earlier that day near Chippenham (www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk)
- ^ the M4 was shut for five hours after a serious crash involving a car and a lorry (www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk)
- ^ confirmed the following day a seven-year-old boy had died (www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk)
- ^ a suspected drink driver was arrested after two crashes caused further delays (www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk)
- ^ Swindon (www.gazetteandherald.co.uk)