2017 M1 motorway crash
| Date | 26 August 2017 |
|---|---|
| Time | approx 03:15 (BST) |
| Location | Between Junctions 14 and 15, M1 Newport Pagnell, Buckinghamshire, England |
| Deaths | 8 |
| Non-fatal injuries | 4 |
| Suspects | 2 |
| Charges | Causing death by dangerous driving, one charge drink-driving |
On 26 August 2017, a multiple-vehicle collision occurred on the M1 motorway near Newport Pagnell in Buckinghamshire, southern England.
The crash[edit]
The crash happened just before 03:15 BST (UTC+1), and involved two lorries and a Ford Transit minibus. Twelve Indian nationals were travelling in the minibus, Eight of them (six men and two women) were killed instantly in the accident and the four remainders, including a five-year-old girl, were taken to hospital, three of whom had life-threatening injuries following the crash, which happened on the busy August bank holiday weekend.[1]
Three of those killed were Wipro IT employees working on a client site in Nottingham and one of those injured was a fourth Wipro employee. The minibus driver had been named as Cyriac Joseph who hailed from Kerala, India, but had lived in the UK 15 years. He died in the accident. One other person who died Rishi Rajeev Kumar came from Kerala and the other passengers were from Tamil Nadu.[2]
Wipro told Times of India in a statement: “It is with deep regret and sadness that we confirm the passing away of three of our colleagues, Karthikeyan Ramasubramaniyam Pugalur, Rishi Rajeev Kumar, and Vivek Bhaskaran in a tragic road accident in the UK. Another colleague, Mano Ranjan Panneerselvam was critically injured in the accident and we are praying for his speedy recovery. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of all those who lost their lives in this tragedy. We will continue to provide all assistance to the families in this hour of grief."[2] The Wipro employees were travelling with relatives from India. A five-year-old Indian girl from Tamil Nadu survived the crash but both her parents were killed in it leaving her orphaned. She was taken to Birmingham Children's Hospital with life-threatening injuries. [3]
The death toll from this incident was the highest number of fatalities resulting from a crash on a British motorway for twenty four years.[2]
The two lorry drivers were arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving – one was also arrested on suspicion of drink-driving.[4] The following day, the two men were formally charged with eight counts of causing death by dangerous driving and four counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving.[5] In a court hearing, the suspects, Ryszard Masierak, 31, from Evesham, Worcestershire and David Wagstaff, 53 from Stoke-on-Trent denied eight charges of causing death by dangerous driving, however Wagstaff pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of eight counts of death by careless driving. Masierak was remanded in custody while Wagstaff was granted bail, pending a further court hearing.[6]
See also[edit]
- 2004 Ingoldmells bus crash, the previous deadliest bus accident in the United Kingdom during the 21st century prior to this accident
- 1991 M4 motorway crash
- M40 minibus crash (1993)
- 1997 M42 motorway crash
- 2011 M5 motorway crash
References[edit]
- ↑ "Eight dead in M1 minibus and lorry crash". BBC News. BBC. 26 August 2017. Archived from the original on 26 August 2017. Retrieved 26 August 2017.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Eight Indians die in worst UK road crash in 24 years". Times of India. 28 August 2017. Archived from the original on 30 August 2017.
- ↑ "UK motorway accident: Families of survivors to fly to Britain". Times of India. 3 September 2017. Archived from the original on 16 September 2017. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
- ↑ Harley, Nicola; Turner, Camilla (26 August 2017). "M1 crash: Eight dead after minibus and two lorries collide near Newport Pagnell as driver arrested for drink driving". The Telegraph. Telegraph Media Group. Archived from the original on 26 August 2017. Retrieved 26 August 2017.
- ↑ "Lorry drivers charged over M1 fatal crash". BBC News. BBC. 27 August 2017. Archived from the original on 30 August 2017. Retrieved 2 September 2017.
- ↑ "M1 minibus crash: Drivers deny dangerous driving". BBC News. BBC. 27 October 2017. Archived from the original on 26 November 2017. Retrieved 27 October 2017.
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