M4 traffic: Two women die in multi-vehicle crash

Wiltshire Police said two women travelling in one of the vehicles died at the scene

Two women have died following a five-vehicle motorway crash, police have confirmed.

Emergency services were called to the eastbound carriageway of the M4 between J17 (Chippenham) and J18 (Bath) at about 09:10 BST.

Four cars and a heavy goods vehicle were involved in the collision.

Wiltshire Police said two women travelling in one of the vehicles died at the scene.

Specialist officers have informed their next of kin.

Two other people involved in the crash had minor injuries and were treated by paramedics at the scene.

The M4 was closed between J18 eastbound and J17 westbound to allow emergency services to carry out recovery and investigation work.

One lane of the westbound carriageway has since reopened.

Acting Insp Will Ayres said: "Due to the seriousness of the collision and the vehicles involved, the recovery work and investigation at the scene is likely to take a significant time and therefore the eastbound side of the motorway will remain closed well in to this evening.

"We have opened one lane of the westbound carriageway, however there are currently a number of emergency service vehicles still occupying that carriageway. Once these are cleared we will fully reopen this side of the motorway."

Elsewhere in the region, traffic and public transport have been disrupted due to flooding caused by Storm Babet.

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