Many Crashes and Fires Cause Big Delays on M4 Road

The M4 motorway in Berkshire has seen many problems recently, including several serious crashes, a lorry fire, and an oil spill. These events have caused long traffic jams and road closures, affecting many drivers. Emergency services have been working to clear the roads.
By Newsroom | Traffic, Berkshire |

A series of significant incidents on the M4 motorway, particularly in Berkshire, have led to extensive traffic delays, road closures, and considerable disruption for travelers. Reports detail multiple crashes, including those involving multiple vehicles and a overturned minibus, as well as other serious events like a lorry fire and an oil spillage requiring extensive repairs. These events have necessitated responses from police, ambulance services, and National Highways traffic officers.

The disruptions have impacted both eastbound and westbound traffic, with closures and lane restrictions reported across various junctions. Diversion routes have been implemented, guiding drivers onto local roads, but these have also experienced increased congestion. Authorities have indicated that some closures are expected to persist for several hours, with emergency services working to clear scenes and make roads safe.

M4 Berkshire crash LIVE: 'Serious' crash shuts busy motorway with huge queues - 1

Timeline of Reported Incidents

Reports of recent and past significant incidents on the M4 motorway in Berkshire are as follows:

Read More: A2 Lorry Fire Causes 90-Minute Delays for Drivers on August 5

  • February 17, 2024: A "serious" crash closed the M4 westbound between Junction 10 (Winnersh Interchange) and Junction 11 (Three Mile Cross Interchange) before the morning rush hour. The road was expected to be closed for several hours. Emergency services, including Thames Valley Police and South Central Ambulance Service, were present. Diversion routes were issued. (Articles 2, 3)

  • February 16, 2024: A court heard of an unresolved technical failure on the M4 smart motorway network in the days leading up to a fatal collision between Junctions 11 and 12. This failure meant alerts for broken-down vehicles were not properly communicated. The collision involved a stationary Nissan in the fast lane. (Article 14)

  • February 14, 2024: A crash led to an oil spillage on the M4, causing rush-hour chaos and requiring emergency resurfacing works. The eastbound carriageway was closed between Junction 12 (Theale) and Junction 11 (Three Mile Cross Interchange). (Article 4)

  • February 12, 2024: Two boys were reported "seriously injured" after a crash on a UK motorway, with the lorry driver fleeing the scene. (Article 17 - Note: This article references the M6, not the M4, but is included as it mentions a similar incident type).

  • February 9, 2024: Multiple updates regarding M4 traffic and incidents were noted. (Article 11)

  • February 8, 2024: Multiple updates regarding M4 traffic and incidents were noted. (Article 11)

  • February 6, 2024: Multiple updates regarding M4 traffic and incidents were noted. (Article 11)

  • February 4, 2024: Multiple updates regarding M4 traffic and incidents were noted. (Article 11)

  • February 3, 2024: Multiple updates regarding M4 traffic and incidents were noted. (Article 11)

  • February 2, 2024: Multiple updates regarding M4 traffic and incidents were noted. (Article 11)

  • January 29, 2024: Multiple updates regarding M4 traffic and incidents were noted. (Article 11)

  • January 28, 2024: Multiple updates regarding M4 traffic and incidents were noted. (Article 11)

  • January 8, 2024: The M4 remained closed in both directions between Junction 15 (Swindon) and Junction 14 (Hungerford) following a police-led incident overnight. Congestion was reported on approach. (Article 8)

  • December 2, 2022: The M4 westbound was blocked and experiencing queueing traffic due to an overturned vehicle between Junction 6 (Slough/Windsor) and Junction 7 (Slough West). The motorway was shut westbound between Junction 6 and Junction 8/9 (Maidenhead). (Article 12)

  • September 12, 2022: A crash involving two vehicles on the M4 motorway in Berkshire led to delays of over six miles on the eastbound carriageway between Junction 13 (Chieveley/Newbury) and Junction 12 (Theale). Emergency services were present. (Article 15)

  • September 2, 2022: A crash involving two vehicles on the M4 motorway in Berkshire led to delays. All lanes on the eastbound carriageway were later reported as open. (Article 15 - Note: This appears to be a duplicate entry for the September 12 incident, possibly referring to the same event with different reporting dates).

  • August 11, 2025: A woman in her 20s died in a crash that caused a stretch of the M4 to be closed for approximately 11 hours. The incident occurred on the eastbound carriageway between Junction 13 (Newbury) and Junction 12 (Theale). The vehicle left the carriageway and fell into a verge. Fire crews attended the scene. (Article 16)

  • August 11, 2025: Traffic was easing on the M4 London-bound from Junction 13 (Chieveley/Newbury) to Junction 12 (Theale) due to earlier barrier repairs. (Article 6)

  • November 20, 2025: A lorry fire caused chaos on the M4, with two lanes closed westbound near Windsor. Firefighters were battling the flames. Google Traffic showed a closure in place between Maidenhead and Slough. (Article 7)

  • November 19, 2025: The eastbound carriageway between Junction 12 (Theale) and Junction 11 (Reading South) was closed during rush hour due to emergency resurfacing works following an oil spillage from an earlier collision. (Article 4 - Note: This date differs from the February 14 entry for the same incident type, suggesting multiple oil spillage events or reporting variations.)

  • October 25, 2025: A car crash between Junctions 17 and 18 on the M4 westbound sparked a major emergency services response. Vehicle recovery was completed. Separately, the M4 was closed in both directions between Junction 18 (Tormarton) and Junction 19 (M32, Bristol) for planned bridge construction works. (Article 13)

  • May 11, 2025: A child died after a minibus overturned on a motorway slip road. The M4 in Berkshire was closed in both directions following a single-vehicle collision on the link road from Junction 10 to the A329M near Reading. The motorway reopened after about three hours, but the slip road remained closed. South Central Ambulance Service and Thames Valley Air Ambulance were among the responders. (Article 9)

  • March 7, 2022: A woman died in an accident on the M4 between Reading and Theale. Lanes three and four remained closed. The accident occurred between Junction 11 (Reading) and Junction 12 (Theale). Thames Valley Police and National Highways traffic officers were at the scene. The M4 eastbound reopened around 4.35 pm. (Article 10)

  • June 24, 2025: A serious collision closed a stretch of the M4 in both directions between Junction 12 (Theale) and Junction 13 (Chieveley). (Article 5)

Diversion Routes and Traffic Impact

When sections of the M4 are closed, official diversion routes are put in place. These typically involve drivers exiting at a specific junction and following a marked route using local roads. For example, after exiting at Junction 10, drivers have been advised to use the A329(M) towards Reading, then exit at Winnersh, join the A329, turn left at a roundabout, and then join the B3270 to reach the M4 Junction 11 Roundabout to rejoin the motorway.

M4 Berkshire crash LIVE: 'Serious' crash shuts busy motorway with huge queues - 2

However, these diversion routes often experience significant congestion due to the increased volume of traffic. This creates "huge queues" and traffic chaos, impacting travel times for many road users. National Highways has advised drivers to expect closures to last for "several hours" in some instances.

Emergency Service Response

Multiple emergency services have been observed at the scenes of these incidents. This includes:

Read More: M1 Motorway Closed After Crash and Fire

M4 Berkshire crash LIVE: 'Serious' crash shuts busy motorway with huge queues - 3

  • Thames Valley Police: Leading the incident response for collisions. (Articles 3, 9, 10, 14)

  • South Central Ambulance Service (SCAS): Attending with critical care units and ambulances. (Articles 2, 3, 9)

  • National Highways Traffic Officers: Assisting with traffic management and scene safety. (Articles 2, 3, 4, 10, 15)

  • Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service: Attending incidents such as the lorry fire and making scenes safe after collisions. (Articles 7, 16)

  • Thames Valley Air Ambulance: Responding to critical incidents. (Article 9)

Safety Concerns and Investigation

One report highlights a "smart motorway fault" that was unresolved in the days leading up to a fatal collision between Junctions 11 and 12. This technical issue meant that alerts for broken-down vehicles were not communicated properly, contributing to the circumstances of a fatal accident involving a stationary vehicle in a live lane. The investigation into this incident is ongoing, with a court hearing details about the fault and the time taken to rectify it after the collision. (Article 14)

In another instance, a lorry driver reportedly fled the scene after a crash that left two boys seriously injured. (Article 17 - Note: This specific detail pertains to an M6 incident, but illustrates a scenario of driver non-compliance in traffic incidents).

M4 Berkshire crash LIVE: 'Serious' crash shuts busy motorway with huge queues - 4

Conclusion and Ongoing Situations

The M4 motorway in Berkshire has experienced a series of disruptive events, predominantly serious collisions and related incidents like oil spills and fires. These occurrences have resulted in significant traffic delays, extensive road closures, and a strong presence of emergency services. The implementation of diversion routes has, in turn, placed additional pressure on local road networks.

Read More: M60 Motorway Closed After Two Cars Crash

Investigations into some incidents, such as the fatal collision involving a smart motorway fault, are ongoing and have been presented in court. The recurring nature of these serious events underscores the challenges in maintaining the smooth and safe operation of this major transport artery. The duration of closures and the impact on traffic are variable, depending on the severity of the incident and the subsequent recovery and repair operations.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What has happened on the M4 motorway?
There have been many serious crashes, a lorry fire, and an oil spill on the M4 in Berkshire. These events have caused big traffic jams and road closures.
Q: How long will the roads be closed?
Some road closures may last for several hours. Emergency services are working to reopen the roads as quickly and safely as possible.
Q: Are there other problems on the M4?
Yes, there was a technical problem with the smart motorway system that was reported before a fatal crash. This issue meant alerts for broken-down cars were not sent out properly.
Q: What should I do if the M4 is closed?
Drivers are often sent on diversion routes using local roads. However, these roads can also become very busy. It is best to check traffic updates before you travel.