Crews called to two M4 RTCs

Monday 7 December
15.01 and 16.25 M4 Motorway, between junctions 18 to 19

Fire crews were called to two road traffic collisions on both carriageways of the M4 motorway in the space of just an hour and a half.

Four vehicles were involved in the first incident which involved all four eastbound lanes. Drivers of three of the vehicles were able to leave their cars unassisted, but the driver and passenger of a fourth car were trapped.

A total of four fire appliances, including a rescue tender, attended the emergency from Temple, Yate and Patchway fire stations. Working alongside paramedics, firefighters removed the roof of the car so the male driver and female passenger could be rescued.

The driver, thought to be in his 30s, was treated for suspected neck injuries. His female passenger, in her 20s, had suffered suspected neck and head injuries and was removed on a spinal board. She was flown to hospital by air ambulance; the driver was taken to hospital by land ambulance.

As crews were preparing to leave the scene of that incident, at 16.25 a second road traffic collision took place on the westbound carriageway.

A heavy goods vehicle and a car were involved in the incident, leaving two occupants of the car in need of rescue. Firefighters from Temple, Patchway and Bath attended the scene and used hydraulic cutting equipment to remove the roof the car. 

The male driver suffered only minor injuries, but his female passenger was removed on a spinal board due to concerns she may have suffered a neck or back injury in the collision. Both were taken to hospital by ambulance.