Arrest over fatal M1 crash

This article was reproduced with the kind permission
of the British Broadcasting Corporation

Thursday, 12 June, 2003, 16:06 GMT 17:06 UK
Arrest over fatal M1 crash

A transporter carrying army vehicles was involved in the crash

A man has been arrested in connection with a major crash on the M1 in Leicestershire in which five people were killed.

The 60-year-old from the London area was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.

He was one of those injured in the crash between Junctions 19 and 20 on the M1 on Wednesday morning.

Two people are still in a serious condition in hospital.

Tank transporter

The accident happened after 11 vehicles collided on Wednesday morning, closing one of the UK's busiest motorways in both directions.

Police investigations have confirmed the first collision was between a dark red Honda Civic and a tank transporter on the northbound carriageway at about 0730 BST.

FIVE KILLED

crash scene

The car had been travelling from London while the transporter and another similar vehicle had joined the M1 at Junction 15.

Four people died at the scene when the transporter jack-knifed and catapulted two armoured vehicles into oncoming traffic.

The lorry was transporting armoured vehicles returning from the conflict in Iraq to Catterick in North Yorkshire from Marchwood in Hampshire.

Two people were airlifted to hospitals in Birmingham, where one later died.