M4 AIRLIFT FOR CRASH VICTIM
LUCKY ESCAPE FOR MOTORIST WHO SURVIVES OVERTURNED CAR, AS TRAFFIC IS BROUGHT TO A STANDSTILL ON A DAY OF CRASHES
A MAN was airlifted to hospital yesterday following a serious car crash on the M4.
The motorway was closed for several hours westbound between Bridgend and Sarn at junctions 35 and 36.
It is understood a car overturned in the incident which happened shortly before 1pm.
One casualty was airlifted to the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff with “non-life threatening” and “nonlife changing” injuries to his leg.
A South Wales Police spokesman confirmed that a police vehicle crashed on the eastbound stretch of the road while making its way to the scene.
The incident caused major delays for drivers heading westbound and there were also reports of slow-moving traffic eastbound.
A South Wales Police spokesman said yesterday: “Emergency services are currently dealing with an accident on the M4 between junctions 35 and 36 westbound.
“As a result, the motorway will be closed at that location. There are no reports of injuries and we will update you when the road reopens.
“Road conditions are particularly hazardous with spray and standing water on the road.
“Motorists are urged to amend their speeds accordingly and avoid travelling if at all possible.”
Our reporter Gemma Parry, who was on the M4 when the crash happened, said: “We were driving on the other side of the road and we first spotted a lorry and a few cars that had pulled over on the other side.
“All the traffic on our side was slowing down. A car was overturned and lying on its roof on the embankment.
“There were lots of emergency services there – we could see a few police cars and a fire engine and there were loads of people around the car.
“We kept going after the incident and there was a police car that seemed to have crashed on our side of the road. The front end was smashed in.”
South Wales Police said all lanes had been reopened on the M4 at around 2.30pm.