Monday, November 7, 2011

M5 firework venue to help police

Family pic of Tony and Pam AdamsTony and Pam Adams, who had been visiting family in south Wales, were killed in the crash

Organisers of a firework display that is now the "major line of inquiry" after Friday's fatal M5 crash have said they will work closely with the police.

Taunton Rugby Club said its thoughts and prayers were with the families of those affected by the accident, in Somerset, in which seven people died.

Police have not established what caused the crash but said "a bank of smoke" had been across the M5 at the time.

The motorway has now reopened in both directions.

Meanwhile, the family of Tony and Pam Adams, who were in their 70s and from south Wales, have said the retired couple were killed in the accident.

The 34-vehicle pile-up happened at junction 25, near Taunton, at about 20:30 GMT on Friday.

Some 51 people were injured in the pile-up, which happened on the northbound carriageway. The motorway closed between junctions 24 and 25 after the crash, but reopened on Sunday night.

Anthony Bangham, Avon and Somerset Police: "We believe there was significant smoke on the carriageway"

Taunton Rugby Club, which is based near the M5, said in a statement that, as a family based community club, it had held a fireworks display on Friday evening.

Avon and Somerset Police Assistant Chief Constable Anthony Bangham said his focus was the Friday night event and people who had attended the fireworks display would be interviewed by officers.

"Our main line of inquiry has now moved towards the event that was on the side of the carriageway," he said.

"We do believe that whilst there was fog and difficult conditions in the area, that actually from witness evidence there was very significant smoke across the carriageway that in effect caused a bank, similar to a fog bank, which was very distracting and very difficult to drive through.

"We will be doing everything we can to find out as quickly as we're able to what's behind that."

'One event'

He added: "Accountability is clearly something we will look at when you've had an incident such as this."

M5 crash scenePolice said all vehicles had been removed from the site

Mr Bangham said the major crime teams and collision investigators from the road policing unit were working on the investigation.

"If there's going to be a joint investigation then it is a crime investigation as well as a road policing investigation," he said.

Mr Bangham said the investigation would look at how the fireworks event was organised, what permission was given for it and what was and was not meant to be happening.

Mr and Mrs Adams had been visiting their daughter in Taunton and were driving back to their home in Wales when the accident happened.

The Reverend Andrew Willie said he had to tell St Mark's Church in Newport, which the couple attended, that they had died and the congregation was "shocked and deeply saddened".

Prayers

"We will remember Tony and Pam with love and affection," he said.

"Prayers were said for them and their families who are obviously devastated by the loss of their adored parents."

Police said a 40m (131ft) stretch of the carriageway had been damaged by fuel spillage and a 60m (197ft) stretch by "intense fire". All the vehicles involved in the crash have now been removed from the scene.

Transport Secretary Justine Greening said the police still have a 'harrowing' job

Of the injured, 25 were taken to Yeovil District Hospital, 17 of the more seriously injured are being treated at Musgrove Park Hospital in Taunton and nine were treated at the scene.

Twenty-three of those taken to Yeovil have since been discharged.

Musgrove Park Hospital said four people had been discharged and 12 were still being treated.

Hundreds of people have paid tribute to the dead and injured and their families on Facebook.

Prayers for the victims, their families and the emergency services and medical staff were also said during mass at Taunton Catholic Church.

In the nearby town of Bridgwater about 1,000 people observed a minute's silence at the carnival statue at 12:00 GMT on Sunday.

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/uk-england-somerset-15615992

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