M4 Crash Spills 20 Tonnes Prosecco, Closes 7 Hours

A collision between two heavy goods vehicles on the M4 motorway in Berkshire spilled 20 tonnes of prosecco across the westbound carriageway, forcing a closure of more than seven hours on Monday morning.

The incident occurred around 7:30 a.m. between junctions 13 for Chieveley Interchange and 14 for Hungerford. One lorry, carrying the Italian sparkling wine, suffered extensive damage that scattered broken glass bottles and liquid across the road. The second vehicle had its empty shipping container knocked sideways, with its trailer detaching from the cab and coming to rest on the nearside barrier, according to Thames Valley Police and National Highways.

Thames Valley Police reported significant debris at the scene. One driver sustained minor injuries, and no one was trapped. Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service dispatched crews from Newbury, Theale, and Caversham Road, providing immediate care to the injured person before handing over to National Highways after about one hour and 10 minutes.

The westbound lanes remained closed until after 3 p.m. while recovery and cleanup operations proceeded. National Highways, alerted at 7:37 a.m., completed vehicle recovery by 11:30 a.m. and...