Crane driver dies after M4 tanker crash

A man has died after the crane he was driving collided with a tanker on the M4, police said.

The 50-year-old driver of a Kato crane suffered fatal injuries as his vehicle left the road following the crash, in which the tanker also collided with a Citroen C4 Picasso and the central reservation.

A 46-year-old man, the driver of the Mercedes tanker, was unhurt and has been arrested, while the woman driver of the Citroen was taken to hospital for treatment before being released.

Motorists faced long delays after the M4 was shut following the crash at 5.45pm on the westbound carriageway between junctions 32 and 33 of the motorway near Cardiff, south Wales.

The westbound carriageway was closed until the early hours of the morning, while one lane was shut on the eastbound side for several hours. Police said the road reopened at about 1am.

Drivers stuck in the ensuing queues said they saw lots of emergency crews on their way to the crash site.

The Welsh Ambulance Service said it sent two rapid rapid response vehicles, one ambulance and a doctor. But an air ambulance could not be called in due to poor weather conditions.

South Wales Police is appealing for witnesses via 101, reference Occurrence 1500407145.