A crane has been drafted in to recover a burnt-out wreck after an 18-year-old woman was killed in a crash on the M4 in Wiltshire.
When her Vauxhall Corsa left the carriageway between junctions 16 and 17, near Chippenham, on Sunday afternoon (26 April) it overturned and caught alight.
Despite the best efforts of emergency services personnel, the woman was pronounced dead at the scene. Her next of kin has been informed, police previously confirmed.
A forensic collision investigation was carried out overnight, and continued this morning (Monday). Two lanes past the incident were opened ahead of the rush hour.
But at 4pm, police were forced to close the motorway in both directions to carry out “complex” recovery operation. A nearby footbridge was also cordoned off to the public.
A crane, which has been sourced from a company in Cambridge, arrived to remove the Vauxhall from the undergrowth before placing it on the back of a recovery truck.
The wreckage was covered in a blue tarpaulin to protect it from both public view and the elements as it was transported back to a secure facility for further investigation work.
Wiltshire Police reopened at the M4 at shortly after 7pm – with traffic delays easing.
A spokesperson said: “Recovery of the vehicle has now been completed and both carriageways have reopened in full.
“Thank you for your patience while this complex operation was carried out.”
