A manhunt is underway after a fatal multi-vehicle crash on the M4 near Heathrow Airport, with the driver of one car fleeing the scene on foot. The collision occurred shortly before midnight between junctions J3 (Feltham) and J4B, following a police pursuit that had been called off.
Emergency services attended the scene at approximately 11.37pm on [date] after reports of a crash involving two cars. A white Volkswagen Golf was found with two occupants seriously injured. Despite paramedics' efforts, a 63-year-old man died at the scene. His next of kin have been informed and are receiving support from specialist officers.
A 62-year-old woman from the Golf was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries, while a 29-year-old man also from the car sustained non-life-threatening injuries. The second vehicle, a black BMW 320i, had been pursued by Thames Valley Police earlier but was no longer being chased at the time of the crash, according to the Metropolitan Police.
The occupant of the BMW, described as an Asian man of heavy build wearing dark clothing and carrying a black rucksack, fled the scene on foot. Detective Inspector John Millward of the Met's Roads and Transport Policing unit said: 'Our thoughts are with the families and friends of the people involved. Our specialist detectives are now working at pace to identify and establish the exact circumstances of the incident and locate the driver of the second car.'
Thames Valley Police has made a mandatory referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), a standard procedure to ensure independent oversight. The M4 was closed westbound for over 12 hours, causing significant disruption, including two-hour queues and six miles of congestion. The closure also affected passengers heading to Heathrow, compounded by Tube strikes and a signal failure on the railways.
