This article is from the source 'bbc' 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.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-41065582
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 3 | Version 4 |
---|---|
Lorry drivers charged over M1 fatal crash | Lorry drivers charged over M1 fatal crash |
(about 4 hours later) | |
Two lorry drivers have been charged over a crash on the M1 on Saturday which left eight people dead and four with serious injuries. | Two lorry drivers have been charged over a crash on the M1 on Saturday which left eight people dead and four with serious injuries. |
Six men and two women were killed when the minibus they were in collided with two lorries near Milton Keynes. | Six men and two women were killed when the minibus they were in collided with two lorries near Milton Keynes. |
Ryszard Masierak, 31, and David Wagstaff, 53, have been charged with eight counts of causing death by dangerous driving. | Ryszard Masierak, 31, and David Wagstaff, 53, have been charged with eight counts of causing death by dangerous driving. |
The first victim has been identified as minibus owner Cyriac Joseph, 52. | |
A service was held in his memory on Sunday at St Paul's Church, Lenton, Nottingham. | |
Father Biju Joseph, who conducted the mass, confirmed Mr Joseph's wife and children, a 19-year-old man and girl aged 15, who attended the service, were told of his death by police on Saturday morning. | |
He said the prayer service was a "great relief" for them. | |
"It's so sad and we're praying to God for his soul and his family," he said. "People are really shocked, he was such a good friend. He was like a brother to me." | |
Alex Daniel, a friend, said Mr Joseph was a "great leader" within the south Indian community in Nottingham. | |
He said: "I'm not surprised by the amount of people who came here [to the service]. We got calls from across the country showing concerns for the family." | |
A five-year-old girl, a man and a woman were left with life-threatening injuries in the crash, and are still critically ill in hospital. Another woman has serious injuries. | |
Thames Valley Police said the vehicles were all travelling in the same direction southbound between junctions 15 and 14 at Newport Pagnell at about 03:15 BST on Saturday. | Thames Valley Police said the vehicles were all travelling in the same direction southbound between junctions 15 and 14 at Newport Pagnell at about 03:15 BST on Saturday. |
Some of those on board the minibus, which carried branding for the Nottingham-based firm ABC Travels, were visiting the UK from India, police said. | Some of those on board the minibus, which carried branding for the Nottingham-based firm ABC Travels, were visiting the UK from India, police said. |
Friends of Mr Joseph, who was also known as Benny and originally came from the Indian state of Kerala, paid tribute on social media. | |
'Big brother' | |
"My dearest friend Benny passed away this morning after a huge road accident happened in M1 in London," said Soyimon Joseph in a Facebook post. | "My dearest friend Benny passed away this morning after a huge road accident happened in M1 in London," said Soyimon Joseph in a Facebook post. |
"Hearty condolences. I never thought yesterday 10pm you say thank you to me it was our last meeting." | "Hearty condolences. I never thought yesterday 10pm you say thank you to me it was our last meeting." |
Another Facebook tribute read: "Words cannot describe how helpful you are. You are there when we need you. You are my big brother. | Another Facebook tribute read: "Words cannot describe how helpful you are. You are there when we need you. You are my big brother. |
"My deepest and sincere condolences to my best friend Cyriac Joseph (Benny)," wrote Manu Zachariah. | "My deepest and sincere condolences to my best friend Cyriac Joseph (Benny)," wrote Manu Zachariah. |
Thames Valley Police said the two men charged in connection with the crash also each faced four counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving. | |
Mr Masierak, of Barnards Close, Evesham, Worcestershire, was additionally charged with eight counts of causing death by careless driving while over the drink-drive limit. | |
He will appear at High Wycombe Magistrates' Court on Monday. | |
Mr Wagstaff, of Derwent Street, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, is due before Milton Keynes Magistrates' Court on 11 September. | |
Pictures of the vehicles showed significant damage to the two lorries, which appeared to belong to courier firm FedEx and AIM Logistics. | Pictures of the vehicles showed significant damage to the two lorries, which appeared to belong to courier firm FedEx and AIM Logistics. |
Spokesmen for the two companies expressed sympathies to those who lost loved ones in the crash, and said the companies were assisting police with their inquiries. | Spokesmen for the two companies expressed sympathies to those who lost loved ones in the crash, and said the companies were assisting police with their inquiries. |