Motorcyclist dies in horror smash with van sparking M4 rush hour chaos

A motorcyclist died in a horror crash with a van on a motorway near London Heathrow Airport today.

The collision at 1.30pm on the M4 near junction four in West London caused traffic chaos for commuters travelling home and those flying in and out of the airport.

Drivers faced delays across more than 12 miles of the M25 between junctions 12 and 16, while there were major problems on the M4 between junctions four and six.

A Scotland Yard spokesman said: ‘Police were called at approximately 1.30pm to reports of a collision involving a van and a motorcycle on the M4, junction four.

‘Officers, the London Ambulance Service and London’s Air Ambulance attended. The motorcyclist, thought to be a male was pronounced dead at the scene.

‘Enquiries are underway to inform the motorcyclist’s next of kin. The driver of the car stopped at the scene and there have been no arrests.

‘Road closures remain in place and motorists are advised to use alternative routes. Emergency services remain on scene.’ 

As traffic built up and motorists were stuck on the road, kind passersby decided to hand out bottles of water.

Kornel Lambert tweeted: ‘Some lovely people have turned up to hand out water to those stuck in the #M4 crash closure.’

A spokesman for the London Ambulance Service said: ‘We were called at 1.27pm today to the M4 near Harlington to reports of a road traffic collision.

‘We dispatched an incident response officer, two medics in response cars and an ambulance crew. We also dispatched London’s Air Ambulance.

‘Sadly a person was pronounced dead at the scene.’

Officers urged any witnesses to call 101 using the reference CAD 4040/4July.