Crash investigators said later in the space of 19 seconds 51 vehicles became involved in the crash. "It appears it was full of deodorants and cans," he said. 08 . Others took evasive action by driving onto the hard shoulder and up the sides of the cutting. . Motorists also attempted to pry open vehicle doors themselves. There were three minor collisions caused by distracted drivers on the opposite carriageway of the motorway. Some of the injured and dead were pulled from the wreckage by passing motorists who stopped to assist. A van driver claimed something flew up in front of him, believed to be jackdaws, startling him and causing him to skid into the central reservation, but it was later reported that he fell asleep at the wheel. One of the vehicles was carrying a highly-flammable fuel, thought to be deodorant and the fuel from a number of the other vehicles also caught fire. The force confirmed that it was a welfare incident, but could not disclose . 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From suburban London it follows the Thames Valley past Slough, Maidenhead and Reading - home, today, of Britain's technology companies, and a place that has earned the M4 the nickname the "silicon highway". A woman seen walking on the M4 towards London has died after being hit by a lorry. Car fuel exploded along with the highly combustible material being carried in one of the vans (possibly deodorant) and the resultant series of explosions closed the carriageway for four days as the charred wrecks were removed and the road surface replaced. At the crash site of 'no hope' - BBC reporter in Greece. It was the second triple fatal collision on the Thames Valley's road in 48 hours as three special needs teachers were killed when in collision with a lorry on the M4 motorway. Sign up for our newsletter and get the top stories from BerkshireLive delivered straight to your inbox, Petrol shortages will carry on for another week 'or so' says minister, Firefighters work to put out the fire in one of the lorries involved in the crash, Firefighters and soldiers work on the aftermath of the crash, Fire crews survey some of the mangled wreckages of the 51 vehicles that were involved, This picture shows the scale of the clean up operation after the vehicles ploughed into each other, A jack-knifed lorry at the scene of the crash, The vehicles crashed into each other in the space of less than 20 seconds, A firefighter works on a scorched vehicle, The crash left the motorway closed for four days, 10 people died in the crash and 25 others were injured, A lorry cabin that was left caved in in the crash, BerkshireLive delivered straight to your inbox, BBC Weather forecasts light snow to hit Berkshire towns including Reading, Slough, Bracknell, Snow and sub-zero temperatures are forecast by BBC Weather, Live A329(M) traffic recap as lane reopens after crash near Wokingham, Person dies after being hit by train near Slough in incident that closed GWR line, The British Transport Police was called to the scene shortly before 8am, Mum banned from gym over photo posted on her Instagram page, The picture was taken in the gym changing room, and showed mum-of-two Stephanie, Berkshire's most deprived areas including in Reading, Slough and Windsor according to recent Census data, Slough has the highest proportion of deprived households under the dimensions of education, employment, health and housing, Reading parents unable to find out children's school places after 'critical incident', The portal required to access the results page is currently down, Rapists, burglars and other criminals locked up in Berkshire in February 2023, The courts in Berkshire dealt with a variety of cases this month, New waterside Mediterranean tapas bar to open in Maidenhead in March, The restaurant will use local ingredients to create authentic Spanish food, Six players set to depart Reading FC in summer transfer overhaul while 12 have futures in doubt, An early look at how the Reading FC squad could shape up over the summer and going into 2023/24 with another big overhaul expected, Reading FC face fresh relegation threat with EFL set for decision over new six-point deduction, Reading FC currently sit 14th in the Championship table but could be plunged into the relegation mix amid reports the Royals could face a fresh six point deduction, Reading FC's long-term plan questioned by former Royals midfielder with Andy Carroll point made, Reading FC are closing in on securing safety in this year's Championship having racked up 44 points from their 32 matches to date, following a 3-1 win against Blackpool, New Reading Festival 2023 acts announced including Mimi Webb, Rina Sawayama, More than 80 acts have been announced to join Billie Eilish, Lewis Capaldi and many others at the events, Plans for 62 home development in Reading town centre site to go before council, If approved, the development will be built on a former swimming pool which closed in 2018, Berkshire family fearful over nonsensical prison release of pilot who killed his wife, Robert Brown bludgeoned his 46-year-old wife Joanna to death with a claw hammer in their family home as their two young children cowered in a playroom, Live A329(M) traffic updates as lane closed after crash near Wokingham, 'Not sure why' - Reading FC boss Paul Ince left stumped as defender's injury absence continues, Reading FC defender and vice-captain Tom Holmes has missed the side's past four matches with a calf problem and is rated at 50-50 going into Saturday's game at Middlesbrough, M4 and A404M road closures this week as National Highways issues diversions, Closures are in place for resurfacing work, smart motorways and signage repairs, 'I can never relax' - Paul Ince has his say on Reading FC's diminishing relegation prospects, Reading FC moved a big step towards securing safety in the Championship for another season over the weekend after a 3-1 victory over Blackpool at the Select Car Leasing Stadium. 7 August Austria The brakes of a Hungarian tourist bus fail in Styria, killing 15 people and injuring 28. One of the earliest recorded road crash victims. A car travelling behind the van changed lanes to avoid contact but other vehicles behind, which were travelling at speeds averaging 70 miles per hour, failed to avoid the crashed van and skidded into the other lanes of the carriageway. Ailish Delaney / NSW News / Updated 24.01.2023 2:12 Two cousins dead after a high-speed chase that ended on the M4 1:36 Send your story ideas to: bristol@bbc.co.uk, Police use of force in custody 'concerning', Dashcam shows driver going wrong way on roundabout, Latest bid to stop 200m Westbury incinerator revealed, Wiltshire Police officer facing allegations of 'abusing position for sexual purposes', Teenager robbed and punched by masked trio on town high street, Banned driver was caught red-handed by police at M4 service station, Swindon man arrested after 'fleeing scene of domestic assault', Salisbury: Framemakers closes shop in Butcher Row, Station master arrested after dozens killed in Greece train crash, Survivors describe 'nightmarish seconds' as trains crashed, At the crash site of 'no hope' - BBC reporter in Greece. There were three minor collisions caused by distracted drivers on the opposite carriageway of the motorway. National Highways said diversions were in place along the A350, A420 and A46. Acting Assistant Commissioner Adam Whyte told reporters the car was travelling at excessive speed at the time of the crash. 1991 World Rowing Championships - Vienna (AUT) - Men's Four (M4-) World Rowing 2:56 Motorbike rider crashes over the edge of motorway flyover Stephenward 0:26 Queensland Officials Release Motorway Crash Footage, Urge Caution at Exits StoryfulNews 0:37 Lorry crash leaves thousands of fish all over motorway Newsflare Thnh hnh David Crosby 1:19 Malas and Dandans relatives comforted each other at Auburn Police Station after identifying the bodies on Tuesday. Watch the latest news and stream for free on 7plus >>. The death toll. A van driver claimed something flew up in front of him, believed to be jackdaws, startling him and causing him to skid into the central reservation, but it was later reported that he fell asleep at the wheel. An articulated lorry then jack-knifed across all three lanes of the eastbound carriageway. Its amazing that no other vehicles were impacted.. He said that he stopped his girlfriend getting out to help because it would have meant certain death. WestConnex M4; Plan Your Journey. "We were incredibly lucky. It was still at the scene and largelyintact. Edmund King, president of the AA, said the only comparable incident was a crash that involved 51 cars on a stretch of the M4 in Berkshire in March 1991. Sign in . M4 Motorway Crash Of 1991 Matthew Cipolla 2.86K subscribers Subscribe 848 views 1 year ago On 13 March 1991, a multiple-vehicle collision occurred during foggy conditions on the eastbound. A car travelling behind the van changed lanes to avoid contact but other vehicles behind, which were travelling at speeds averaging 70 miles per hour, failed to avoid the crashed van and skidded into the other lanes of the carriageway. Drivers reported that patchy fog suddenly made driving conditions extremely difficult. It was incredible how quickly everything caught fire.". We sat there and heard the thud of cars, one after another, hitting each other and thought we would be next. A second crash closed part of the motorway . It was noted at the time that there were "nearly as many" people killed and injured in the crash than in the British Army from enemy fire in the Gulf War. Car fuel exploded along with the highly combustible material being carried in one of the vans (possibly deodorant) and the resultant series of explosions closed the carriageway for four days as the charred wrecks were removed and the road surface replaced. A car travelling behind the van changed lanes to avoid contact but other vehicles behind, which were travelling at speeds averaging 70 miles per hour, failed to avoid the crashed van and skidded into the other lanes of the carriageway. "One man said there was someone trapped inside a blue taxi which had run straight into the back of a lorry. The accident took place at the time of year when daffodils bloom in Southern England. Just over 30 years ago, one of the worst crashes ever seen on a British motorway happened in Berkshire, involving more than 50 vehicles and leaving 10 people dead. Hamill said he was still able to see his father's Megane car on TV news reports. A woman in her 60s has been killed and two other people badly injured after the car she was in broke down on the M4 motorway. The crash, near the town of Hungerford, happened in heavy fog during morning rush . On 13 March 1991, a multiple-vehicle collision occurred during foggy conditions on the eastbound carriageway of the M4 motorway near Hungerford, Berkshire, between the Membury service station and junction 14. Everything you need to know about 1991 M4 motorway crash with all nearby routes and curiosities. Bridget Driscoll is the first person to die in a petrol-enginedcar crash, and the first pedestrian victim of an automobile crash in the United Kingdom. M4 crash victim was banned from driving until 2025. A Met Police spokesperson confirmed the child and other four people injured in the crash were taken to hospitals in London. M4. WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Two cousins dead after high-speed chase that ended on the M4. 4 August Zimbabwe A crowded bus carrying school children loses control and crashes in Troutbeck, Manicaland, Zimbabwe, killing 87 people, including 82 children. It was very stressful. The crash led to the motorway being closed for four days. The chase ended on the southbound on-ramp to the M4 Motorway in Homebush where the Audi went up in flames after crashing through a railing. Police have described a night of carnage on the M4 as a 'truly tragic' one which put 'huge pressure' on the emergency services as two separate fatal crashes happened on the same stretch of. Three smaller crashes happened on the westbound carriageway. Hi there! March 1991 - A 51 car smash on the M4 near Hungerford when a driver . November 29 USA A dust storm on Interstate 5 near Coalinga, California triggers a 164-vehicle pile up that leaves 17 people dead and 150 injured. "We will be supporting the crews and charities who helped and remembering them in our prayers, as we will be doing all this weekend.". Enterprise. Seifeddine Malas, 27, and Jebriel Dandan, 24, were killed when the Audi they were travelling in crashed on the westbound on-ramp to the M4 motorway in Homebush and became engulfed in flames shortly after 12.30am. M4 smart motorway project completed Berkshire 5 Dec 2022 Final closure to complete M4 smart motorway Berkshire 2 Dec 2022 Multi-vehicle crash forces motorway closure Berkshire 2 Dec. I heard people screaming and children crying. Seifeddine Malas, 27, and Jebriel Dandan, 24, were killed when the Audi they were travelling in crashed on the westbound on-ramp to the M4 motorway in Homebush and became engulfed in flames shortly after 12.30am. Acting Assistant Commissioner Adam Whyte said the car, which was travelling at "excessive" speed, drove through the bush before it landed upside down and burst into flames. The M4 is the only motorway in Wales apart from its two spurs: the A48(M)and the M48. The vehicle, when its gone through the Armco railing, has travelled through some vegetation for approximately 20m before coming to a rest on its roof, Acting Assistant Commissioner Adam Whyte said on Tuesday. They skidded across the carriageway, while other drivers took evasive action by driving onto the hard shoulder. An officer in Newbury recalls the motorway crash 20 years ago which killed 10 people THE TRAGEDY . All westbound lanes were initially closed. 13 March 1991: 10: 25: 51: Referred to as the 1991 M4 motorway crash; heavy fog and a van driver either falling asleep or swerving to miss a pigeon in the outside lane led to a pileup and fiery crash involving 51 vehicles, leading to 10 deaths on M4 in Hungerford, Berkshire, United Kingdom, between Membury and Hungerford. Summarize this article for a 10 years old. 31 July USA A bus carrying about 60 Girl Scouts overturns on a desert mountain road near Highway 111, killing 7 people. "We managed to stop because we had just joined the motorway and were not going too fast. In a period of 19 seconds, 51 vehicles became involved in a pile-up. One driver Alan Bateman freed himself from his car and ran back down the central reservation to warn approaching motorists, but was ignored or hooted by some drivers as they continued towards the crash. The vehicle ignited on impact with the motorway as shocked witnesses tried to free the men from the fiery wreckage. Several emergency service vehicles including two . The major towns and cities along the routea distance of approximately 189 miles (304 km)include Slough, Reading, Swindon, Bristol, Newport, Cardiff, Bridgend, Port Talbotand Swansea. A truck and several cars were involved in a collision at Auburn, just west of Silverwater Road. 1991 M4 crash Location M4between junctions 14 and 15, near Lambourn, Berkshire Deaths 10 Non-fatal injuries 25 Property damage 51 vehicles destroyed or damaged; road surface scorched; central reservation damaged M4 motorway crash Location in Berkshire and England Close "This made it very difficult to search the vehicles.". Brave drivers even left their cars to try to warn others of what they were approaching. WestConnex M4 (the New M4 Tunnels and the Widened M4), includes 5.5km Tunnels and around 8.5km of surface roads . A man in his 40s has died after being hit by a car on a busy stretch of motorway, Wiltshire Police have said. Video, At the crash site of 'no hope' - BBC reporter in Greece, Record numbers of guide dog volunteers after BBC story. Credit:Nine News. Cart. 2023 BBC. ", Assistant chief constable Anthony Bangham, of Avon and Somerset police, said a number of passengers were unable to escape from their burning cars. Travelling in the M4 Tunnels? 1991 M4 motorway crash - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org /wiki/ 1991_M4_motorway_crash The accident took place at the time of year when daffodils bloom in Southern England. Major transport upgrades for city unveiled, Man dies after being hit by a car on motorway, Lanes reopen after multi-vehicle motorway crash, Miss Wales gets hospital visit from Miss World, Miss Wales seriously injured in crash on M4, Man charged over driving wrong way on motorway, Mercedes driven for 20 miles on wrong side of M4, Christmas travel warning with 20 million trips due, Ambulance service cannot meet 999 call demand, Final closure to complete M4 smart motorway, Multi-vehicle crash forces motorway closure, M4 full closure warning between M25 and Langley, M4 50mph speed limit fines come into force, Speed camera fines start a year after installation, Concerns over power plant plans on green belt, First Minister's Questions: As it happened on 25 October, Warning to motorists as bridge work shuts M4, Pipe down! Ten people were killed and 25 others were injured, making it one of the worst pile-ups on a motorway in Britain. But a car came by within seconds at about 70mph and went straight into the lorry. Drivers on the motorway were experiencing heavy fog. Some local people said that smoke from fireworks at the rugby club next to the motorway might have contributed to the poor visibility. All lanes reopened just before 15:00 GMT, with traffic returning to normal. Can you list the top facts and stats about 1991 M4 motorway crash? The incident happened at around. Were working to restore it. The M4 is, effectively, the Great Western motorway, doing exactly that job but for the modern era. Instead, his life was cut short, along with that of his friend, in another instance of dangerous driving. What happened next was the cars travelling behind swerved to avoid the stricken vehicle. "Most vehicles were well alight and most continued to burn for a considerable time," Bangham said. That crash, which happened near the town of Hungerford in heavy fog during morning rush hour, left 10 people dead and a further 25 injured. A man has died following a crash on the M4 near Cardiff. On 13 March 1991, a multiple-vehicle collision occurred during foggy conditions on the eastbound carriageway of the M4 motorway near Hungerford, Berkshire, between the Membury service station and junction 14.. On the other side of the carriageway there was debris flying back into people from passing vehicles. Witnesses describe 'massive fireball' on motorway in Somerset after 34 vehicles piled into one another, Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning, M5crash: experts doubt fireworks smoke theory, M5crash: friends and families pay tribute to victims, M5crash: police investigate rugby club fireworks display, M5crash death toll expected to rise as grim search goes on, M5accident: community struggles to deal with the nightmare next door. , provides a link from our issue on teaching into placemaking Ohad Meyuhas, co-founder, Israel., co-founder, FabLab Israel, provides a link from our issue on teaching placemaking. Of dangerous driving of 'no hope ' - BBC reporter in Greece ( the New Tunnels. Local people said that smoke from fireworks at the rugby club next to the poor.. Tried to free the men from the fiery wreckage we would be....: 04 - Ohad Meyuhas, co-founder, FabLab Israel, provides a link from our issue on teaching placemaking... 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