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-somerset-26809955

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
Somerset M5 pile-up deaths inquest resumes Somerset M5 pile-up: Inquest told of gunpowder smell and wall of smoke
(about 4 hours later)
A coroner has resumed an inquest into the deaths of seven people in a fatal motorway pile-up in Somerset. Witnesses to a motorway accident in Somerset which claimed the lives of seven people have told an inquest of a smell of gunpowder and a "wall" of fog.
Some 30 vehicles crashed in fog in November 2011 on the M5 near Taunton.Some 30 vehicles crashed in fog in November 2011 on the M5 near Taunton.
The inquest into the crash was paused after Geoffrey Counsell, the organiser of a fireworks display held nearby, was charged with health and safety breaches. The inquest was paused after Geoffrey Counsell, the organiser of a fireworks display, faced health and safety breaches. He was later cleared.
He was cleared in December. Seven people were killed and 51 injured in the pile-up near junction 25 of the M5. Seven people died and 51 were injured in the crash, which happened close to junction 25 of the motorway.
Following the collapse of the trial, West Somerset coroner Michael Rose said it was his full intention to resume the inquest. Following the trial, West Somerset coroner Michael Rose said he intended to resume the inquest.
It is taking place at Taunton Crown Court and is expected to last several weeks. The inquest heard from a series of witnesses who all drove past Taunton on the motorway within an hour of the crash.
Lorry driver John Krostovnikoff was heading to Staffordshire from Exeter when he suddenly hit a wall of thick fog just after 19:00 GMT.
"It was unusual because you normally see it coming but it was clear, then like going through a wall - it was very dense," he said.
'Smelled of sulphur'
Sainsbury's delivery driver Ian Thorne, who had been returning to his depot in Taunton, said: "It wasn't very good visibility.
"I could see fireworks and then I could see the smoke they were giving off and I could see it was going to the direction of the motorway.
"It was white but I could see through it but I could also see it was 200 yards thick. It smelt of gunpowder."
Andrew Bibbings, an off-duty Avon and Somerset Police officer, described his journey as "foggy".
He said his car headlamps did not penetrate the smoke, which he said smelled of sulphur.
"There is quite a difference between fog and what I consider to be smoke," he added.
The inquest at Taunton Crown Court is expected to last several weeks.
Those who died were:Those who died were: