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| M5 crash: Firework organisers 'to work closely with police' | M5 crash: Firework organisers 'to work closely with police' |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Investigators of the M5 crash in which seven people died are treating a nearby fireworks display as a "major line of inquiry". | |
| Details of victims have begun to emerge, including reports a woman is in a coma after the crash in Somerset that left her father and sister dead. | |
| Tony and Pam Adams, who were in their 70s and from south Wales, were also killed, their family has confirmed. | |
| Taunton Rugby Club, firework display organisers, are assisting police. | |
| The club said its thoughts and prayers were with the families of those affected by the accident. | |
| Police have not established what caused the crash but said "a bank of smoke" had been across the M5 at the time. | 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. | The motorway has now reopened in both directions. |
| The 34-vehicle pile-up happened at junction 25, near Taunton, on Friday night. | |
| 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. | 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. |
| The rugby club 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. | 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. | "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 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." | "We will be doing everything we can to find out as quickly as we're able to what's behind that." |
| 'One event' | 'One event' |
| He added: "Accountability is clearly something we will look at when you've had an incident such as this." | He added: "Accountability is clearly something we will look at when you've had an incident such as this." |
| Mr Bangham said the major crime teams and collision investigators from the road policing unit were working on the investigation. | 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. | "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 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. | 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". | 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 | Prayers |
| "We will remember Tony and Pam with love and affection," he said. | "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." | "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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. |