A motorway was closed for more than seven hours after 20 tons of prosecco flowed down the road following a lorry crash.
The ‘major disruption’ took place on the M4 junctions 13 and 14 earlier when a lorry carrying the Lovelli fizz wine collided with another HGV which had its shipping container knocked off.
Boxes of prosecco spilled across the carriageway from one of the lorries leaving ‘significant debris’ and ‘smashed glass throughout’ while the other lorry had its empty container dislodged, Thames Valley Police’s roads policing team said on social media.
One driver is under investigation for dangerous driving – with early indications suggesting they may have been using a mobile phone at the wheel – following the collision between junctions 13 and 14 near Newbury and Hungerford, Berkshire.
The force added that ‘amazingly’ only person had suffered minor injuries.
‘Not quite the roadside refreshment anyone had in mind’, police said.
National Highways was alerted to the incident at 7.37am.
Recovery of the vehicles was completed by 11.30am and the debris was cleared by 12.56pm, they said.
A motorway was closed for more than seven hours after 20 tons of prosecco flowed down the road following a lorry crash
Boxes of prosecco spilled across the carriageway from one of the lorries leaving ‘significant debris’ and ‘smashed glass throughout’
The ‘major disruption’ took place on the M4 junctions 13 and 14 earlier when a lorry carrying the Lovelli fizz wine collided with another HGV which had its shipping container knocked off
The Lovelli Prosecco caused ‘major disruption’ on the M4 after a lorry carrying 20 tons of the Italian sparkling wine collided with another HGV
Should penalties for drivers using phones be tougher, given the chaos seen on our roads today?
The M4 reopened by 14.20pm following a temporary closure, during which diversion routes were put in place.
A post on Facebook by TVP’s Roads Policing team said: ‘Two HGVs have collided between Junction 13 and 14 causing major disruption.
‘One vehicle has had its (empty) shipping container knocked off. The second was carrying 20 tonnes of Lovello Prosecco – now spread across the carriageway, leaving significant debris and smashed glass throughout.
‘One driver is under investigation for dangerous driving, with early indications suggesting mobile phone use at the wheel.
‘Recovery will be prolonged and complex: one lorry partially lifted off the ground; container fully dislodged off another; extensive clearance required.
‘M4 currently closed for recovery – diversion routes in operation.
‘A reminder: using your phone at the wheel doesn’t just risk points – it risks lives. Amazingly only minor injuries received by one of the drivers!
‘Not quite the roadside refreshment anyone had in mind!’
