This article is from the source 'independent' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/minibus-crash-m1-newport-pagnell-eight-dead-police-suspect-lorry-driver-was-drunk-a7914051.html

The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Lorry driver suspected of being over the limit in M1 crash that killed eight people Eight people killed in crash involving minibus and two lorries on M1 near Newport Pagnell
(35 minutes later)
One of the men arrested over the M1 minibus crash that killed eight people is suspected of driving while above the alcohol limit, police have said. Eight people are dead and four others have been taken to hospital after a crash on the M1, Thames Valley Police has said.
The 31-year-old lorry driver, from Worcestershire, was arrested early on Friday morning after two HGVs crashed with a minibus while travelling southbound between Northampton and Milton Keynes. The crash, involving two lorries and a minibus, happened near the town of Newport Pagnell, in Buckinghamshire, at about 3.15am.
Eight passengers in the minibus were killed and four, including a child, are in hospital. All eight victims were travelling in the minibus, as were the four injured passengers of whom one was a child, police said.
Thames Valley Police said: "A 31-year-old man from Worcestershire has been arrested on suspicion of one count of causing death by dangerous driving and one count of driving a motor vehicle when alcohol level above limit. Images posted online suggested the crash took place near an exit ramp, and showed the wrecked minibus had been almost totally flattened in the collision.
"Also a 53-year-old from Stoke-on-Trent [was] arrested on suspicion of one count of causing death by dangerous driving." The cabs of the HGVs were also smashed.
The M1 southbound between Northampton and Milton Keynes had been closed but has since reopened. Both lorry drivers have been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving, and are in custody, police said. One, a 31-year-old from Worcestershire, is also suspected of driving while over the alcohol limit.
Chief Inspector Henry Parsons, from the Joint Operations Unit for Roads Policing, said: "Our thoughts are very much with the families of those involved in this morning’s collision, and we are currently working to locate and inform their next of kin. One of the lorries belonged to the mail courier company FedEx.
"I would continue to appeal to anyone who witnessed the collision and has not yet spoken to officers to please contact us. In a statement to The Independent, FedEx said: "We are aware of the tragic accident that occurred last night on the M1 motorway, junction 14 in the UK with a FedEx truck involved.
"Anyone who has any information which could assist the investigation should call the 24-hour Thames Valley Police enquiry centre on 101 quoting URN 203 of 26/8." "Our deepest thoughts and concerns are with all of those involved.
  "Safety is of the utmost importance to FedEx, and we are cooperating fully with authorities but have no further information at this time."
Thames Valley Police said all three vehicles were travelling in the same direction, and that the minibus was believed to have come from the Nottingham area.
The motorway has re-opened southbound between Northampton and Milton Keynes.
Chief Inspector Henry Parsons, of the Joint Operations Unit for Roads Policing, said: "I would appeal to anyone who witnessed the collision and has not yet spoken to officers to please contact us.
"Anyone who has any information which could assist the investigation should call the 24-hour Thames Valley Police enquiry centre on 101, quoting URN 203 of 26/8."