A woman has been taken to hospital with what have been described as "serious injuries" following a crash on the M4 near Bridgend. The collision happened on the M4 eastbound carriageway between junctions 35 and 36 at around 6pm on Thursday night (January 19).
The carriageway was closed completely while emergency services worked at the scene and investigations were carried out. Cars were stuck in long tailbacks, with one driver saying they had been stuck for around two hours near McArthur Glen. Others had been sat in their cars for more than three hours
Police asked motorists to avoid the area while congestion was dealt with and said they were assisting drivers to turn around and return along to junction 35. Two lanes have since re-opened - meaning eastbound traffic can begin flowing once more.
One driver, Sadie Ffion Phillips, told WalesOnline that she had been trapped in traffic for three hours. "People including myself are getting very distressed," she said. "There are women with newborn babies stuck and women with diabetes who are in such need to get out of this traffic." You can get more traffic and travel news and other story updates straight to your inbox by subscribing to our newsletters here.
A statement from South Wales Police read: "We are dealing with a serious road traffic collision which happened on the eastbound carriageway of the M4 motorway between junctions 35 (Pencoed) and 36 (Sarn) which was reported at 6pm this evening. Because of the nature of the collision it has been necessary to close the carriageway completely while investigations have been continuing. A female has been taken to the University Hospital of Wales with what are described as serious injuries.
"As a result, a considerable tail-back of traffic has built up and we are doing all we can to assist motorists in clearing the motorway and officers will be assisting them to turn around and return along the carriageway to junction 35. Local diversions are in place and you are asked to avoid the area while the congestion is being dealt with. We want to thank those caught up in this incident for their patience and understanding."
READ NEXT:
Ex-policeman with imitation gun wanted officers to shoot him
Long-term empty homes in Bridgend will be charged 100% council tax premium
Inside the brand new trains being used on South Wales Metro as they enter service for the first time
CPS employee unlawfully accessed material which she passed on to criminals
How much you'll have to pay to park in Swansea from April, 2023
Find out about traffic and travel issues where you live:
