TWO 61-year-olds are in hospital today as they started their recovery from a high-speed motorway collision which has left one of them with life-changing injuries.

The man and woman, both from Hampshire, were in a car which careered off the M4’s eastbound carriageway on Monday afternoon, with the latter suffering extensive facial injuries.

Wiltshire Fire & Rescue had to free the pair from their green Volvo estate after it hit fencing off the side of the motorway, between Junctions 16 and 15, shortly before 5.30pm.

Thames Valley Air Ambulance attended the incident and flew the passenger to Oxford’s John Radcliffe Hospital.

The man suffered a head injury and was taken to Southampton General Hospital.

Lane one and the hard shoulder of the eastbound carriageway between Junctions 16 and 15 were closed for three-and-a-half hours to allow for an investigation.

Wiltshire Police is appealing for witnesses to the incident to come forward with any information they might have.

A spokeswoman for the force said: “Police are appealing for witnesses following a serious road traffic collision on the M4 on Monday.

“At approximately 5.27pm, a green Volvo estate left the carriageway while travelling in lane one eastbound between Junctions 16 and 15, before crashing into fencing.

“The driver, a 61-year-old man from Hampshire, suffered a head injury and was taken to Southampton General Hospital where he remains.

“The passenger, a 61-year-old woman, also from Hampshire, suffered extensive facial injuries and was flown by air ambulance to the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford.

“Her injuries are described as life-changing.

“Lane one of the M4 and the hard shoulder were closed for three-and-a-half hours while police collision investigators carried out a thorough investigation.

“Anyone who witnessed the incident should contact PC Jay Clifton of the TriForce specialist operations unit at Wiltshire Police on 101 or alternatively, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 where information can be left anonymously if preferred.”