A closure remains in place this morning (Sunday) after three air ambulance teams were called to a major crash on the M4 near Swindon.
Emergency services were called to a road traffic collision on the westbound carriageway between junctions 16 and 17 shortly after 8pm on Saturday (18 July).
Wiltshire and Bath Air Ambulance and Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance attended in a helicopter, while Great Western Air Ambulance responded in a car.
A number of casualties were treated at the scene, with one understood to have sustained critical injuries in the crash – which involved a car and van.
National Highways say the westbound carriageway will remain closed for “a considerable time” for forensic collision investigation and recovery work.
A spokesperson said: “The M4 in Wiltshire is closed westbound between Junction 16 (near Swindon) and Junction 17 (near Chippenham) following a serious collision which occurred at approximately 8:05pm yesterday evening.
“Traffic was held on the eastbound carriageway to allow two air ambulances to attend the scene. Traffic was released shortly after 10:30pm.
“Wiltshire Police, the ambulance service, fire service and National Highways Traffic Officers were all in attendance.
“Wiltshire Police will be carrying out complex investigation works, therefore the carriageway is expected to remain closed for a considerable time.”
A spokesperson for Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service said: “We were called to the M4 westbound between J16 and J17 at 8.14pm tonight (18 July) following a two vehicle road traffic collision involving a car and a van.
“Three crews attended, from Westlea, Swindon and Stratton, and firefighters released one casualty from the car using hydraulic rescue equipment.”
