M4: Two women die following serious multi-vehicle crash

The crash took place at around 9am as emergency services were called to the eastbound carriageway between Junctions 17 (Chippenham) and 18 (Bath).

Five vehicles were involved in the collision - a HGV and four cars. The two women that died were travelling in one of the vehicles and were pronounced dead at the scene.

Two other people involved in the collision sustained minor injuries and were treated by paramedics at the scene.

In an a video supplied to the Adver by an onlooker showed what seems to be an overturned HGV as well as a car.

The M4 is currently closed between J18 Bath and J17 Chippenham due to a crash. Here is a video of the scene, sent into the @SwindonAdver by an onlooker. There appears to be a car and a coach involved. @WiltshirePolice have been approached for comment. pic.twitter.com/o7GgVq2jRE

— Edward Burnett (@edwardburnettt) October 20, 2023

The eastbound side of the carriageway remains closed and is expected to be for some time according to authorities.

One lane on the westbound carriageway has now reopened, and police say the rest of the carriageway will be reopened soon.

Roads Policing Unit A/Insp Will Ayres said: “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.

"We have opened one lane of the westbound carriageway, however, there are currently a number of emergency service vehicles still occupying that carriageway. Once these are cleared we will fully reopen this side of the motorway.”

A spokesperson for the South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT) said earlier on in the day: “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.” 

Cars travelling along the M4 were forced to take a diversion in order to avoid the crash site.

 Those travelling westbound now have access to the road but those travelling from Bath towards Swindon must still take the diversion.

The take drivers towards the A420 then to Chippenham and then back up to the M4 to rejoin the road at J17.