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M1 tank collision: five dead
Page 6
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• by Jennifer Ball Five people have been killed and eight injured in a 10vehicle pile-up involving a tank transporter and four trucks or the M1 in Leicestershire.
Leicester Constabulary says that the first collision occurred on the northbound carriageway at around 7.40am last Wednesday (11 June) at Junction 19 near Lutterworth.
It involved a dark red Honda Civic and a tank transporter being run by Poole-based haulier Elliott Sargeant.
The transporter, which was carrying army vehicles, jack-knifed after it took action to avoid a vehicle, sending its cargo of tanks through the central reservation into the path of oncoming traffic. A number of other vehicles then ploughed into it.
Inspector Paul Orton, head of the road policing unit says: "We particularly want to speak to motorists using the M1 if they were near to either vehicle immediately prior to the collision. This investigation could take several months to complete. It is imperative that we deal with actual and accurate information, and not speculation."
A statement released on behalf of Elliott Sargeant says that the company is devastated to learn that one of its vehicles has been involved in an accident: "It is the first time in over eight years of trading that this has happened. The driver involved was very experienced in transporting this sort of load, and is now in hospital.
"We will, of course do all we can to assist in any investigation by the police and authorities, to ascertain the cause of this tragic accident."
The semi-low loader was transporting three small tanks from Marchwood Military Port near Southampton to Catterick Garrison as part of Elliot Sergeant's cargo contract with the MoD.
Two people are in a "serious but stable" condition in hospital, says a Leicestershire police spokeswoman. A mar arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving has been released on bail.
• Contact: 0116 222 2222.