Twenty tonnes of prosecco spilled onto the M4 after a lorry crash, sending boxes of Italian sparkling wine across the carriageway and causing “major disruption” for motorists in Berkshire.
Thames Valley Police said the collision between two heavy goods vehicles left “significant debris” and “smashed glass throughout” the westbound stretch between junctions 13 near Newbury and 14 near Hungerford. One of the lorries was carrying approximately 20 tonnes of Lovello Prosecco, while the other had its empty shipping container dislodged in the impact. Remarkably, only one person suffered minor injuries.
Police investigation into dangerous driving
Officers from Thames Valley Police’s roads policing team have placed one driver under investigation for dangerous driving. Early indications suggest the driver may have been using a mobile phone at the wheel. Police used the incident to issue a stark warning: “Using your phone at the wheel doesn’t just risk points – it risks lives.”
The force described the recovery operation as “prolonged and complex” because of the nature of the spillage and the condition of the vehicles. In a lighthearted remark about the cargo, officers added: “Not quite the roadside refreshment anyone had in mind.”
Road reopening and diversions
National Highways was alerted to the crash at 7:37am. The westbound carriageway was closed shortly afterwards, with diversion routes put in place for the thousands of drivers affected. Motorists were advised to leave the M4 at junction 13, take the first exit onto the A34 southbound, follow to the A4/B4000 roundabout, take the third exit onto the B4000 heading north‑west, continue to the A338 junction, turn left onto the A338, and follow to the M4 junction 14 interchange to rejoin the westbound carriageway.
Recovery of the vehicles was completed by 11:30am, and the debris was cleared from the road by 12:56pm. The M4 fully reopened at 2:20pm, ending several hours of disruption for Berkshire commuters.
