A serious crash on the M4 motorway near Reading has caused a full closure in both directions this afternoon (Sunday, May 11). Emergency services, including multiple air ambulances, responded after a car overturned on a slip road between Junction 11 (Reading) and Junction 10 (Wokingham/A329M).
The incident forced a complete shutdown of the M4, allowing helicopters to land directly on the motorway. National Highways confirmed that two additional air ambulances were en route shortly after 4pm. A spokesperson for National Highways said, “This is a very serious incident involving serious injury. The road is expected to remain closed for some time.”
Thames Valley Police urged drivers to avoid the area, warning that delays will continue well into the evening.
Queues quickly built up, with delays exceeding 50 minutes and congestion extending over three miles. The heavy traffic has also impacted surrounding diversion routes, where several vehicle breakdowns have added to the disruption. Additionally, a separate vehicle fire was reported between Junction 7 and 8 westbound, further complicating traffic flow. Police briefly halted traffic between Junction 15 and 16 westbound due to ongoing operations.
Areas affected include:
- Junction 11 to Junction 10: Full closure both ways
- Junction 8 to Junction 9 westbound: Heavy congestion from breakdowns
- Junction 7 to Junction 8 westbound: Vehicle fire reported
- Junction 15 to Junction 16 westbound: Brief closure due to police activity
Drivers are advised to follow diversion signs, avoid the M4 if possible, and check live updates from National Highways and local radio stations.
A Thames Valley Air Ambulance spokesperson told Metro, “We can confirm that our helicopter and a critical care response vehicle were dispatched to provide advanced critical care at an incident on the M4 today.” While the condition of those injured has not been confirmed, early reports indicate at least one person sustained serious injuries.
Thames Valley Police are appealing for witnesses or anyone with dashcam footage of the crash or the vehicle involved to come forward. Anyone with information is asked to contact police via 101 immediately.
Originally published by UKNIP.
