Two people have been confirmed dead after a minibus carrying a number of adults with severe autism was in a collision with a lorry on the M4 today.
Three air ambulances landed for the incident, on the eastbound carriageway between junctions 14 (Hungerford) and 13 (Chieveley/Newbury), at around 11.30am this morning.
An air ambulance critical care paramedic described the major incident as ‘challenging’.
Three other passengers in the minibus including the driver have been taken to hospital with serious injuries. Three further passengers received less serious injuries and attended hospital.
The driver of the HGV was also taken to hospital having received minor injuries.
A spokesperson for South Central Ambulance Service told Wiltshire 999s: “We received multiple emergency 999 calls just after 12.15 this afternoon reporting a serious collision between a lorry and a minibus on the M4 eastbound between junctions 14 and 15.
We sent three air ambulances (Thames Valley, Hampshire and Isle of Wight, Great Western) to the scene, along with the Hampshire and Isle of Wight critical care car, six ambulances, a bronze ambulance officer in a rapid response vehicle and a silver officer/incident commander in a rapid response vehicle.
“Three people in the minibus had sustained life-threatening injuries; one was flown to the major trauma centre at the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, one went by road to the major trauma centre at the John Radcliffe Hospital, and the third was flown to the major trauma centre at Bristol Southmead Hospital.
“Three further people in the minibus had sustained less serious injuries, two of whom were taken by road to the Great Western Hospital, Swindon, and the third to the Royal Berkshire Hospital, Reading.”
The road reopened westbound at just after 2.30pm this afternoon, but eastbound is expected to remain closed late into the evening for collision investigation work.
