Woman in her 60s dies in fireball horror crash on smart motorway stretch of M4

A woman in her 60s has been killed and two other people badly injured in a fireball crash on the M4 motorway today.

The victim is believed to have lost control of her black Nissan car and been involved in a crash with a white van in the outside lane near Reading. 

The impact caused the motorway to be closed in both directions as emergency services battled through long traffic jams to reach the tragic scene. 

Firefighters were called to extinguish the flames on the burning vehicles, with the road remaining closed for hours.

The crash, which happened at rush hour this morning on the M4, left at least one vehicle engulfed in flames and sadly left one woman dead. Pictured are emergency services dealing with the aftermath

The incident is believed to have happened when a black Nissan collided with a white van in the outside lane of the motorway. Pictured are fire engines and other emergency services at the scene of the crash

Thames Valley Police said the crash, which happened during the rush-hour this morning, saw the Nissan was being driven in lane four westbound involved in a crash with the van just before junction 12 of the M4, the turning to Theale, Berkshire.

Sadly, as a result of the crash the female Nissan driver was killed instantly. 

Two other people suffered serious injuries and were rushed to hospital, where they both remained in a serious condition tonight.

Officer Detective Constable Mark Dunne of the Serious Collision Investigation Unit said: ‘Tragically, as a result of a serious collision this morning, a woman has died and two others have been seriously injured.

The M4 was closed in both directions as a result of the crash, with long tailbacks (pictured) while the road remained shut

Police are appealing for anyone with dash cam footage or who might have seen the crash to come forward and help with their investigation. Pictured are people standing outside their cars after the road was closed

‘The woman’s next of kin have been made aware and are being offered support by specially trained officers. 

‘I am appealing to anybody who was driving on the M4 this morning at around the time of the collision to please contact 101.

‘I would also like to hear from anybody who may have dash-cam footage to please check this, and if it has captured the collision, or the moments leading up to the collision, to please get in touch with us.’

The woman who died has not yet been named by police. 

A post mortem examination is to be carried out by a pathologist to ascertain the exact cause of her death. 

An inquest will also be opened by the Berkshire coroner.