A POLICE officer had to be cut free from his patrol car after another driver ploughed into the back of it on the M4 during a routine speed stop yesterday.

Shortly before 10.45am, the roads policing vehicle, manned by two officers, pulled a car over on the hard shoulder close to the Dauntsey overbridge between Junction 16 at west Swindon and Junction 17 at Chippenham on the westbound carriageway.

While the officers were still in their vehicle, an Audi A3 came onto the hard shoulder and hit it, leaving one of them trapped inside.

A Wiltshire Police spokesman said: “Our unit pulled over a car for allegedly speeding on the M4. They stopped the car on the hard shoulder and another car has gone into the back of the police car.

“One of our officers was medically trapped in the car and was cut free before being taken to Great Western Hospital, along with the male driver of the other car and his daughter. The other officer, also a PC, was treated for shock. Everyone had minor injuries and have since been discharged from hospital.

“The road was fully reopened by shortly after noon but the vehicles had only just been recovered by 3pm while the Serious Collision Investigation Team was at the scene investigating.”

Two appliances from Wiltshire Fire and Rescue attended.

A fire service spokesman said: “We got the call at 10.44am and sent two appliances from Stratton and Westlea. One person was medically trapped and had to be cut free.”

While all three lanes were closed initially, by 11.30am traffic flow was only restricted to two lanes, and the motorway was completely cleared by 12.30pm.

A spokesman for South West Ambulance Service said: “There was nothing serious in terms of injuries. The air ambulance were called and two ambulances attended the scene.

“Four walking wounded were taken to First Great Western Hospital for checking over and patching up.”

Motorists faced delays of up to one-and-a-half hours, with normal driving conditions resuming at around 4.45pm.

Any witnesses are asked to contact Wiltshire Police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.