Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Aerial footage shows the scene of the crash involving a minibus and lorry

The driver of an autism school minibus involved in a motorway crash with a lorry has died.

Police said a third person died in hospital on Friday after two people died at the scene of the collision on the M4 on Thursday.

The victims, who were all in the minibus, were staff members at Prior's Court School in Thatcham, Berkshire.

Prior's Court chief executive Mike Robinson said the school "will never quite be the same again".

He added: "The staff at Prior's Court are remarkable people and they are doing extraordinary things to transform the lives of those young people who are most challenged by autism.

"We are absolutely devastated that three of our colleagues have lost their lives."

Mr Robinson said the school would "honour the memory of those who we have lost by making sure that they carry on the great work that those people have started".

Image copyright INS News Image caption The crash happened on the eastbound carriageway of the M4

Two other minibus passengers, who suffered life-threatening injuries, remain in a "critical condition" in hospital, Mr Robinson said.

He added the school was "unbelievably blessed" that three young adults suffered less serious injuries, with two being discharged from hospital.

One young adult from the school remains in hospital to recover from an operation.

Prior's Court Foundation is a charity providing schooling and provision for people aged between five and 25 who have severe autism and complex learning difficulties.

Insp Andy Storey said the lorry driver, who suffered minor injuries, had also been discharged.

Thames Valley Police said there have been no arrests over the crash.

Insp Storey added: "The ongoing investigation will seek to establish what happened in this tragic incident.

"Specially trained family liaison officers are providing support to the families and we are in regular contact with the school."

Image copyright INS News Image caption A lorry and minibus were involved in the crash

The crash happened at about 12:20 BST on the eastbound carriageway of the M4 between junction 14 at Hungerford and junction 13 at Newbury of the M4.

The westbound carriageway was initially closed to allow three air ambulances to land and the eastbound side remained closed for about nine hours.

Thames Valley Police has appealed for anyone who saw what happened or has dashcam footage to contact them.</s>Two people have died following a serious accident which has shut part of the M4 in England.

According to Thames Valley Police a lorry and a minibus crashed on the M4 in West Berkshire.

Two people who were in the minibus died at the scene and three other passengers were taken to hospital with serious injuries.

The eastbound carriageway remains closed between junction 14 at Hungerford and Junction 13 at Chieveley.

Three helicopters and six ambulances were sent to the scene.

A Thames Valley Police spokesman said: "Thames Valley Police is currently on the scene of a fatal road traffic collision in West Berkshire.

"At around 12.20pm today there was a collision between a heavy goods vehicle and a minibus.

"Two people who were in the minibus sadly died at the scene.

"Three other passengers in the minibus including the driver have been taken to hospital with serious injuries.

"Three further passengers received less serious injuries and also attended hospital.

"The driver of the HGV was also taken to hospital having received minor injuries.

"The M4 eastbound between junction 14 at Hungerford and junction 13 at Chieveley is currently closed. The road closure is likely to remain in place for several hours and drivers are being advised to avoid the area.

"Diversions are in place but the surrounding roads remain busy.

"The westbound carriageway is now open and traffic is moving.

"Anyone who may have seen what happened or who has dash-cam footage is asked to contact police."</s>Six people have been injured in a "serious collision" between a minibus and a lorry on the M4.

The crash happened just after 12:00 BST on the eastbound carriageway between junction 14 at Hungerford and junction 13 at Newbury.

South Central Ambulance Service said three people in the minibus had been taken to hospitals in Oxford and Bristol with life-threatening injuries.

The eastbound carriageway is expected to be blocked for "many hours".

Three other people in the minibus suffered less serious injuries and were taken to hospitals in Swindon and Reading, the ambulance service said.

The westbound carriageway was closed to allow three air ambulances to land but has since reopened.
• Read updates on the crash and other stories from the South

Thames Valley Police have advised motorists to avoid the area if possible.

Karyn Romeis, who is stuck in the eastbound queue behind the crash, said people "have been out of their cars for over an hour" and are now getting out to walk on the opposite carriageway.

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• Send an SMS or MMS to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (international)
• Please read our terms & conditions and privacy policy</s>Two people have died and three more are being treated for serious injuries after a lorry and a minibus crashed on a motorway.

Air ambulances were called to a stretch of the M4 in Berkshire at 12.20pm on Thursday after the two vehicles collided.

The two people killed were travelling in the minibus and died at the scene.

Six other people on board the minibus were taken to hospital for treatment, with three of them having suffered serious injuries.

The driver of the lorry was also taken to hospital with minor injuries.

The stretch of the M4 between junction 14 at Hungerford and junction 13 at Chieveley is closed in the eastbound direction.

Earlier on Thursday, the motorway was closed in both directions so the air ambulances could land.

Police have also been trying to turn around drivers caught in the tailback.

Police are appealing for anyone who saw what happened or has dash-cam footage to call 101.</s>Three people have been left fighting for their lives and three others suffered serious injuries after a heavy goods vehicle crashed into a minibus on a motorway this afternoon.

Air ambulances were called to the scene on the M4 at around 12.20pm to carry those injured to hospital, according to South Central Ambulance Service.

An area of the road in Berkshire was closed in both directions as the helicopters landed on the carriageway.

A spokesman for the South Central Ambulance Service said: ‘Three people in the minibus had sustained life-threatening injuries.

‘One was flown to the major trauma centre at the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, one went by road to the major trauma centre at the John Radcliffe Hospital, and the third was flown to the major trauma centre at Bristol Southmead Hospital.

‘Three further people in the minibus had sustained less serious injuries, two of whom were taken by road to the Great Western Hospital, Swindon, and the third to the Royal Berkshire Hospital, Reading.’

One driver said the crash was ‘the worst accident he’d seen’.

Eastbound traffic on the motorway is likely to remain closed ‘for a significant amount of time’, Thames Valley Police said.

The crash happened at around 12.20pm on the eastbound stretch of road between Chieveley and Hungerford, which are junctions 13 and 14 of the motorway.

The police have asked those caught in the traffic from the accident to stay inside their cars so emergency vehicles can get through.

Officers are also trying to turn around motorists stuck in gridlock.</s>A third person has died in a horror crash involving a lorry and minibus on the M4 on Thursday.

The driver of the minibus, which was carrying teachers and children from an autism school, died alongside two other staff members, police have said.

Thames Valley Police confirmed the driver died in hospital today after two people died at the scene of the collision.

The victims, who were staff members at Prior’s Court School Thatcham, were all travelling in the minibus, along with four other teachers and three young people.

They had been on their way back to the residential school, which is for children and young people with severe autism.

Three other teachers from the facility were flown to hospitals suffering from life threatening injuries.

All six lanes of the M4 motorway were closed as three air ambulances landed at the scene as doctors treated the injured and flew them to waiting accident and emergency centres to treat the critically injured.

The crash kept the eastbound section of the M4 motorway between junctions 14, Hungerford, Berks., and junction 13, Chieveley, Berkshire, closed for nine hours as the wreckages of the vehicles were removed after an investigation was conducted by accident traffic officers.

A spokesman for Prior’s Court, in Thatcham, Berkshire, said staff had been left devastated by the crash.

They earlier said: ‘On Thursday 11 October, at around 13.40 Prior’s Court received a call from Thames Valley Police informing us that one of our minibuses had been involved in a serious road traffic collision with a heavy goods vehicle on the M4, between J14 at Hungerford and Junction 13 at Chieveley.

‘We can confirm that at the time of the collision, there were three young adults from Prior’s Court in the minibus, as well as five Prior’s Court employees.

‘Two members of staff involved sadly died at the scene. Three further staff members who were passengers in the minibus, including the driver, have been taken to hospital with serious injuries.

‘The three young adults present received less serious injuries, and also attended hospital for assessment and treatment.’

Post mortem examination were due to be carried out and inquests opened and adjourned by the Berkshire Coroner Heidi Connor within the next week.

The injured were being treated at hospitals in Oxford and Bristol.</s>Six Injured In Serious Minibus Crash On M4 In Berkshire

Six people have been hurt in a serious crash on the M4 in Berkshire.



A lorry and a minibus collided on the eastbound stretch between junction 14 at Hungerford and 13 at Chieveley.

Three of the victims have life-threatening injuries.

Emergency crews say the road is likely to be closed for several hours.

It's reported the lorry may have hit the back of the minibus.



"We received multiple emergency 999 calls just after 12.15 this afternoon reporting a serious collision between a lorry and a minibus on the M4 eastbound between junctions 14 and 15.

"We sent three air ambulances (Thames Valley, Hampshire & Isle of Wight, Great Western) to the scene, along with the Hampshire & Isle of Wight critical care car, six ambulances, a bronze ambulance officer in a rapid response vehicle and a silver officer/incident commander in a rapid response vehicle.

"Three people in the minibus had sustained life-threatening injuries; one was flown to the major trauma centre at the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, one went by road to the major trauma centre at the John Radcliffe Hospital, and the third was flown to the major trauma centre at Bristol Southmead Hospital.

"Three further people in the minibus had sustained less serious injuries, two of whom were taken by road to the Great Western Hospital, Swindon, and the third to the Royal Berkshire Hospital, Reading."

Police remain at the scene investigating how the crash happened. They have not reported anyone being arrested.</s>A third person has died following a motorway crash between a lorry and a minibus carrying staff and pupils from a special school.

The minibus driver, a member of staff at Prior’s Court Foundation school for children with autism in Berkshire, died in hospital following the crash on the M4 on Thursday afternoon, Thames Valley Police said.

Two other members of staff were pronounced dead at the scene.

Another two staff members remain in a critical condition in hospital, while one pupil required surgery on their leg and a further two escaped with minor injuries.

Mike Robinson, CEO of the school, said the news is “utterly devastating”.

“At the same time, we feel unbelievably blessed that the three young people they were working with yesterday escaped with more minor injuries,” he added.

Emergency services were called to a stretch of the M4 in Berkshire at 12.20pm on Thursday after the two vehicles collided between junction 14 at Hungerford and junction 13 at Chieveley, heading in the eastbound direction.

The motorway was temporarily closed in both directions so air ambulances could land and there was heavy congestion on the roads.

The driver of the lorry escaped the crash with minor injuries.

Inspector Andy Storey of the Road Policing Team said: “No-one has been arrested at this time. The ongoing investigation will seek to establish what happened in this tragic incident.

“Our thoughts remain with all of those involved in this collision. Specially-trained family liaison officers are providing support to the families and we are in regular contact with the school.”

Anyone who saw the crash or has dash-cam footage is urged to contact the police on 101.</s>A serious accident has shut part of the M4 in England.

Three helicopters and six ambulances have been sent to the scene.

The crash happened on the eastbound carriageway between junction 14 at Hungerford and Junction 13 at Chieveley.

Traffic is at a standstill in both directions and is being diverted off the motorway near junction 13.

Thames Valley Police tweeted: "Officers have closed part of the M4 in Berkshire following a serious collision.

"The eastbound carriageway between Junction 14 at Hungerford and 13 at Chieveley is likely to remain closed for several hours.

"Please avoid the area and take alternative routes."

They later added in a statement: "Thames Valley Police is currently on the scene of a serious road traffic collision on the M4 in West Berkshire.

"At around 12.20pm today here was a collision between a heavy goods vehicle and a minibus.

"The road is currently closed eastbound between junction 14 at Hungerford and junction 13 at Chieveley.

"The closure on the eastbound carriageway is likely to remain in place for several hours.

"There is currently severe congestion both ways. The westbound carriageway was temporarily closed to allow the air ambulance access to the scene and has since re-opened.

"The eastbound carriageway is likely to be closed for a significant amount of time and officers are working to turn affected motorists around.

"Please remain in your vehicles if you are stuck in the traffic as emergency services require access to the M4.

"Further updates will be published once available."

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Search for jobs, motors and property, or place an advert or family notice here</s>Two people who died in a crash involving a lorry and a minibus on the M4 motorway were from a school for people with autism, it has emerged.

The victims were staff members at Prior's Court School, and were travelling in the minibus.

The eastbound carriageway of the M4 was closed for more than nine hours after the crash, in Berkshire, on Thursday.

The school in Thatcham confirmed three young adults and three other members of staff were also in the minibus.

The three staff members suffered life-threatening injuries in the crash, at 12:20 BST, and were taken to hospitals in Oxford and Bristol, South Central Ambulance Service said.

In a statement, Prior's Court said it was "devastated" about the crash, which happened on the eastbound carriageway between junction 14 at Hungerford and junction 13 at Newbury.

Thames Valley Police have appealed for anyone who saw what happened or has dashcam footage to contact them.

The young adults suffered less serious injuries and were taken to hospitals in Swindon and Reading. The lorry driver was also taken to hospital after suffering minor injuries.

Mike Robinson, Prior's Court chief executive, said the young adults, who have severe autism, were on their way back after a regular work placement session when the crash happened.

"I send my deepest condolences to the families, friends and colleagues of the two people who lost their lives," he said.

"At this time, there are three further staff members receiving treatment and my thoughts are very much with them and their families.

"In such tragic circumstances, we are grateful that all the young people involved are safe and without serious injuries, and we will be doing everything we can to safeguard their wellbeing at hospital and upon their return."

The school said all those affected were receiving support from specialist police family liaison officers.
Three people are killed and two are injured after a lorry crashes into a minibus in Thatcham, England.