Traffic diverted through Swindon 76244-69A 17-year-old soldier has died following a crash on the M4. The teenager was taking a friend to meet a girl when he lost control of his grey Renault 5 near Swindon's junction 16.

Police said the driver had just overtaken a lorry when he careered into the hard shoulder barrier and bounced back across the carriageway into the central reservation.

Firefighters had to cut the roof off the car to rescue him.

Doctors at the Great Western Hospital fought through the weekend to save him, but he remained unconscious, with serious head injuries.

His family took the agonising decision to turn off his life-support machine yesterday afternoon.

Family liaison officer PC Steve Love said: "Unfortunately, his injuries were just too severe, and doctors advised that he would not regain consciousness.

"It was obviously an extremely traumatic decision for the family.

"This was a 17-year-old lad at the beginning of his life, looking forward to a future in the military.

"I can't imagine what they're going through."

The boy's mother and step-father, who are from Liverpool, were at his side when he died.

His 18-year-old passenger escaped with minor cuts and grazes and did not need hospital treatment.

They were both travelling from their barracks at Bordon in Hampshire, where they had been training with REME the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers to Wales.

Duty officer Lieutenant David Saywell said the Army had been made aware of the accident, but was unable to comment further.

The westbound carriageway was shut between junctions 15 and 16 following the collision at 6.15am on Saturday.

Traffic was diverted at junction 15 through Swindon, causing congestion across the town until the carriageway reopened at 11.30am.

Drivers caught in the immediate tailback near the scene one mile prior to junction 16 were delayed by up to two hours.

The victim's passenger has since returned to the garrison.

REME trains soldiers to use the latest technology to maintain tanks, aircraft, helicopters and weaponry, often in harsh conditions.

First, troops are put through a gruelling programme of basic training, which includes assault courses and night exercises.

Witnesses to the crash should call Swindon police on 01793 528111.