A lorry transporting 20 tonnes of prosecco collided with another heavy goods vehicle on the M4 motorway on Monday morning, causing boxes of the Italian sparkling wine to spill across the carriageway and leading to what police described as "major disruption."
Incident Details
The collision occurred between junctions 13 and 14 near Newbury and Hungerford, Berkshire. Thames Valley Police's roads policing team reported that one lorry lost its load of prosecco, leaving "significant debris" and "smashed glass throughout" the road. The other vehicle had its empty container dislodged in the crash.
Investigation Underway
Police confirmed that one driver is under investigation for dangerous driving, with early indications suggesting they may have been using a mobile phone at the wheel. Remarkably, only one person sustained minor injuries in the incident. "Not quite the roadside refreshment anyone had in mind," the force commented on social media.
Road Closure and Recovery
National Highways was alerted to the incident at 7:37 am. Recovery of the vehicles was completed by 11:30 am, and debris was cleared by 12:56 pm. The M4 reopened at 2:20 pm after a temporary closure, during which diversion routes were in place.
Thames Valley Police have been contacted for further comment.
