M1 crash - Two men charged after fatal collision as girl, 5, fights for her life
TWO men have been charged in connection with a fatal crash on the M1 near Newport Pagnell yesterday that killed eight people and left four others fighting for their lives in Britain's worst motorway crash for 24 years.
M1 crash scene where two lorries and a minibus collided
The charges come after a crash on the M1 at 3:15am on Saturday August 26 involving two lorries and a minibus, which killed six men and two women.
Four other people were injured and remain in a serious condition in hospital, including a five-year-old girl with life-threatening injuries.
The young girl was trapped in the wreckage for an hour.
Thames Valley Police said Ryszard Masierak, aged 31, of Barnards Close, Evesham, Worcestershire, was charged with eight counts of causing death by dangerous driving, four counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving and eight counts of causing death by careless driving while over the prescribed limit.
The crash was the worst in England for years
I rushed across to provide help and realised there was a little girl trapped inside
He was remanded in custody to appear at High Wycombe Magistrates’ Court tomorrow, Monday August 28th.
David Wagstaff, aged 53, of Derwent Street, Stoke-on-Trent, was charged with eight counts of causing death by dangerous driving and four counts causing serious injury by dangerous driving.
He was bailed to appear at Milton Keynes Magistrates’ Court on Monday 11 September.
Some of those on the minibus were on a visit from India and police are in contact with their families.
The Indian family had been travelling from Hyson Green in Nottingham to Wembley.
From Wembley, the passengers were due to go on a coach journey through Europe, which included a trip to Disneyland.
M1 crash scene where two lorries and a minibus collided
An Indian family were in the minibus that crashed
One of the victims of the crash has been named as Cyriac Joseph, who was a married father-of-two who drove the bus for ABC travels in Nottingham.
His friend Soyimon Joseph wrote on Facebook: “Hearty condolences. I never thought yesterday 10 pm you say thank you to me it was our last meeting. My dearest friend Benny passed away this morning after a huge road accident happened in M1 in London.”
Mr Joseph has been named as a “lovely and generous” dad-of-two.
He had been celebrating his daughter’s 12 A and A* grades in her GCSE’s just two days ago.
The front of the Fedex lorry caved in
Mr Joseph's friend Manu Zachariah, 45, said: "He was a very close friend of mine, and we used to work together.
"It is very shocking and we don't want to believe that he is not alive. We don't want him to part us because he was part of every part of our lives.
"It is a big loss to the community."
A witness who stopped to help some of the victims in the minibus said the scene was a “warzone”.
Witness Brett Smith, 36, said the minibus was “filled with blood”.
M1 Horror crash victim Cyriac Joseph
He said: “There was no emergency services there at the time. I rushed across to provide help and realised there was a little girl trapped inside.
“I heard her crying. She was probably only three-years-old, and she was the only child I could hear and talk to. I could see her face to face. I still see her now when I close my eyes. “
The crash was the worst since 1993 when 12 schoolchildren and their teacher died in a minibus accident on the M40.