Five people have died after a car which had earlier been pursued by police crashed head on with another vehicle on the M4.
Five people have died after a car which had earlier been pursued by police crashed head on with another vehicle on the M4.
The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) will investigate the crash, at 0320 BST at Newport.
The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) will investigate the crash, at 0320 BST at Newport.
Police said officers stopped following the car before it turned onto the motorway in the wrong direction.
Police said officers stopped following the car before it turned onto the motorway in the wrong direction.
Three men died at the scene and a fourth is critical. A couple in the second car also died.
Three men died at the scene and a fourth is critical. A couple in the second car also died.
The collision between a red Ford Mondeo and a red Volvo 940 happened on the eastbound carriageway between junctions 25 and 24.
The collision between a red Ford Mondeo and a red Volvo 940 happened on the eastbound carriageway between junctions 25 and 24.
Sometime before police said there had been an "incident" at nearby Penhow, when police tried to stop a car.
Sometime before police said there had been an "incident" at nearby Penhow, when police tried to stop a car.
There were seven-mile tailbacks on the M4
There were seven-mile tailbacks on the M4
A Gwent Police spokeswoman said: "The force had cause to attempt to stop a vehicle on the A48, after it was made aware of suspicious activity.
A Gwent Police spokeswoman said: "The force had cause to attempt to stop a vehicle on the A48, after it was made aware of suspicious activity.
"A short pursuit ensued and, as confirmed in the IPCC's earlier press release, when the other vehicle entered the M4 in the wrong direction, the Gwent Police traffic car halted this pursuit."
"A short pursuit ensued and, as confirmed in the IPCC's earlier press release, when the other vehicle entered the M4 in the wrong direction, the Gwent Police traffic car halted this pursuit."
She added: "Gwent Police offers its sincere condolences to the families of all the deceased following this terrible tragedy and will continue to work closely with the IPCC in support of their investigation."
She added: "Gwent Police offers its sincere condolences to the families of all the deceased following this terrible tragedy and will continue to work closely with the IPCC in support of their investigation."
The IPCC had already confirmed that it had been asked to carry out an independent investigation.
The four men were travelling in the Ford Mondeo and the couple in the Volvo, the IPCC later said.
It had already confirmed that it had been asked to carry out an independent investigation.
IPCC commissioner Tom Davies said: "It has emerged that at around 0300 this morning a marked police vehicle had reason to try and stop a car containing four male occupants.
IPCC commissioner Tom Davies said: "It has emerged that at around 0300 this morning a marked police vehicle had reason to try and stop a car containing four male occupants.
"Early indications are that the vehicle being pursued took a turn onto the motorway in the wrong direction.
"Early indications are that the vehicle being pursued took a turn onto the motorway in the wrong direction.
"The police vehicle did not follow it. Some one-and-a-half miles down the motorway, the fatal collision occurred."
"The police vehicle did not follow it. Some one-and-a-half miles down the motorway, the fatal collision occurred."
An 18-year-old man has been taken to hospital
An 18-year-old man has been taken to hospital
The M4 has now reopened in both directions.
The M4 has now reopened in both directions.
Police said the identification of those killed was "currently being ascertained and their families informed".
Police said the identification of those killed was "currently being ascertained and their families informed".
The westbound carriage of the motorway was reopened some seven hours after the crash and the eastbound side reopened an hour later.
The westbound carriage of the motorway was reopened some seven hours after the crash and the eastbound side reopened an hour later.
Monday morning rush hour traffic was tailing back for up to seven miles with all main roads across south east Wales heavily congested.
Monday morning rush hour traffic was tailing back for up to seven miles with all main roads across south east Wales heavily congested.
Last month the M4 was closed around Newport for many hours after a lorry driver died in an accident at Tredegar Park.
Last month the M4 was closed around Newport for many hours after a lorry driver died in an accident at Tredegar Park.
At their worst, tailbacks for drivers after that crash reached 10 miles.
At their worst, tailbacks for drivers after that crash reached 10 miles.
Are you caught up in the accident? Please send us your comments using the form below.
Are you caught up in the accident? Please send us your comments using the form below.
