AN EVESHAM lorry driver charged with 20 offences following a crash on the M1 in which eight people were killed has been remanded in custody after appearing in court today.
Ryszard Masierak, 31, of Barnards Close, Evesham, is charged with eight counts of causing death by dangerous driving and four counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving.
He is also charged with eight counts of causing death by careless driving while over the prescribed limit.
Masierak appeared at Wycombe Magistrates’ Court today (Monday) where he was remanded in custody. He will next appear at Aylesbury Crown Court on Tuesday, September 26 2017.
The charges are in connection with a crash at about 3.15am last Saturday morning on the southbound M1 at Newport Pagnell in Buckinghamshire involving two lorries and a minibus.
The driver of the other lorry, David Wagstaff, 53, of Derwent Street, Stoke-on-Trent, was also 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, September 11.
One of the lorries involved in the crash belonged to Evesham firm Aim logistics.
Ismail Elmagdoub, Director of Aim Logistics Limited, said: “We are aware of one of our vehicles being involved in an incident on the M1 this morning.
“We would like to express our regret in the tragic loss of lives. Our thoughts are with the families at this extremely sad time. The incident is being investigated by the Police and it would be wrong for us to comment further at this time.”
Six men and two women who were travelling in the minibus died as a result of the crash.
A woman, a man and a five-year-old girl who were also travelling in the minibus, were taken to hospital where they all currently remain in a life-threatening condition.
Another woman was also taken to hospital with serious injuries which are not believed to be life-threatening.
The crash happened between junctions 15 and 14 of the M1 and the two lorries and minibus were all travelling in the same direction.
Thames Valley Police have said both haulage companies involved in the crash have been fully cooperating with their investigation.
Chief Inspector Henry Parsons, from the Joint Operations Unit for Roads Policing, said: “The scene facing the officers who attended was complex and the recovery operation which followed was challenging. Tragically eight people lost their lives, with four further people seriously injured, and it is our duty to establish the circumstances of what happened.
“Officers are working to inform the next of kin of the people who died and specially-trained family liaison officers will be offering them their support. Some of those involved were visiting the UK from India and we are working to keep families abroad informed.
“This collision was deeply distressing for the members of the public who witnessed it, along with the emergency service workers who attended and displayed high levels of professionalism. Thames Valley Police has highly trained collision investigators who, over the coming weeks and months, will work to determine what caused this tragedy.
“I would like to reiterate it is vitally important that anyone who saw what happened, who has not already spoken to officers, comes forward with information.”
