Four killed in A34 crash

A woman and three children have been killed in a pileup involving four lorries and four cars on the A34 near East Ilsley.

Thames Valley Police is continuing to investigate the collision which took place yesterday (10 August).

Officers were called to a report of a collision on the northbound carriageway shortly after 5.10pm between the East Ilsley and West Ilsley junctions.

Four people – a 45-year-old woman and three children, an 11-year-old boy, an 11-year-old girl and a 13-year old boy all from Bedfordshire sadly died at the scene. It is believed they were all travelling in the same car.

South Central Ambulance Service also attended the collision. One man was flown by air ambulance to the John Radcliffe Hospital. He is still in hospital being treated for serious injuries. Two people – a man and a teenage boy were taken to the Royal Berkshire Hospital by land ambulance with minor injuries and have since been discharged. Nine people sustained minor injuries and were treated at the scene.

The northbound carriageway of the A34, between Chieveley at junction 13 of the M4 and between the West Ilsley junction was closed until approximately 6.30am.

A 30-year-old man from Andover was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and has been bailed until 5 October.

Chief Inspector Henry Parsons, head of the joint operations unit for roads policing, said: “Our thoughts are with anyone affected by this tragedy. Can I ask anyone who witnessed the collision, including anyone travelling on the southbound carriageway who saw anything they believe is significant, to contact police.”