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| Police investigating claims of 'BMW race' in lead-up to M1 crash | Police investigating claims of 'BMW race' in lead-up to M1 crash |
| (8 days later) | |
| Police are investigating claims that a high speed race was taking place on a motorway just before a collision between two BMWs in which two men died. | Police are investigating claims that a high speed race was taking place on a motorway just before a collision between two BMWs in which two men died. |
| The cars crashed on the M1 near Watford in the early hours of Monday morning, resulting in the death of the driver and a rear-seat passenger of one the vehicles. | The cars crashed on the M1 near Watford in the early hours of Monday morning, resulting in the death of the driver and a rear-seat passenger of one the vehicles. |
| Police arrested a 25-year-old man from east London on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving. They have appealed for people who saw the smash or events leading up to it to contact them. | Police arrested a 25-year-old man from east London on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving. They have appealed for people who saw the smash or events leading up to it to contact them. |
| The crash was one of a series of accidents and incidents that caused chaos on motorways. In the south-west of England a series of accidents near Bristol caused another death and severe delays. | The crash was one of a series of accidents and incidents that caused chaos on motorways. In the south-west of England a series of accidents near Bristol caused another death and severe delays. |
| Both carriageways of the M1 in Hertfordshire were closed while police investigated the accident involving the BMWs. Police are looking at claims by one man that he saw cars racing at speeds of 140mph in the rain before the fatal crash. | Both carriageways of the M1 in Hertfordshire were closed while police investigated the accident involving the BMWs. Police are looking at claims by one man that he saw cars racing at speeds of 140mph in the rain before the fatal crash. |
| They are also examining reports that in the aftermath of the accident, there was a scuffle on the hard shoulder involving crash survivors and the occupants of a third vehicle, a Mercedes, that was travelling behind the two black BMWs. | They are also examining reports that in the aftermath of the accident, there was a scuffle on the hard shoulder involving crash survivors and the occupants of a third vehicle, a Mercedes, that was travelling behind the two black BMWs. |
| One theory is that the three cars were all carrying members of the same group who had been on a night out together. | One theory is that the three cars were all carrying members of the same group who had been on a night out together. |
| The two men who died have not yet been named by police but were aged 22 and 24 and both – like the man arrested – were from east London. | The two men who died have not yet been named by police but were aged 22 and 24 and both – like the man arrested – were from east London. |
| Six men were injured. Two who were in the same car as the pair who died were taken to St Mary's Hospital in Paddington, central London, with what the police called "serious injuries". Four men in the second BMW also needed hospital treatment. The accident resulted in the closure of five junctions of the M1 in both directions and caused traffic chaos. The accident on the M1 happened at about 2.40am on the southbound carriageway between junctions five and four. | Six men were injured. Two who were in the same car as the pair who died were taken to St Mary's Hospital in Paddington, central London, with what the police called "serious injuries". Four men in the second BMW also needed hospital treatment. The accident resulted in the closure of five junctions of the M1 in both directions and caused traffic chaos. The accident on the M1 happened at about 2.40am on the southbound carriageway between junctions five and four. |
| Police would not comment on the lead-up to the crash. A spokeswoman said they had received "anecdotal" reports which they were investigating. She added: "Officers would ask anyone who witnessed the collision or events leading up to it to contact Hertfordshire police on the non-emergency number 101." | Police would not comment on the lead-up to the crash. A spokeswoman said they had received "anecdotal" reports which they were investigating. She added: "Officers would ask anyone who witnessed the collision or events leading up to it to contact Hertfordshire police on the non-emergency number 101." |
| Separately, in the south-west of England, there were huge delays near Bristol after a string of accidents, including one on the M4 that killed a lorry driver. The collision involving two lorries on the eastbound M4 caused three lanes to be closed for most of the day for police investigations and workers could repair the road. | Separately, in the south-west of England, there were huge delays near Bristol after a string of accidents, including one on the M4 that killed a lorry driver. The collision involving two lorries on the eastbound M4 caused three lanes to be closed for most of the day for police investigations and workers could repair the road. |
| The misery there was compounded later by two accidents on the diversion, one of them caused when a lorry hit the central reservation of the M49. Another incident – a vehicle fire – caused the closure of two lanes on the westbound side of the M4 between junction 19 and 20. The M5 northbound was also badly affected by the M4 closure. | The misery there was compounded later by two accidents on the diversion, one of them caused when a lorry hit the central reservation of the M49. Another incident – a vehicle fire – caused the closure of two lanes on the westbound side of the M4 between junction 19 and 20. The M5 northbound was also badly affected by the M4 closure. |
| • This article was amended on 4 December 2012 to make clear that police, rather than detectives, are investigating claims that a race was taking place on the M1. | • This article was amended on 4 December 2012 to make clear that police, rather than detectives, are investigating claims that a race was taking place on the M1. |
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