There was a 34-vehicle accident on the northbound carriageway at junction 25, near Taunton in South Wales on Friday night. Approximately 51 people were injured in the crash and 7 people were killed.
Police do not yet know what caused the pile-up, but a “bank of smoke” had been visible at the time. Eye-witnesses said that this smoke was very significant and stretched across the carriageway. It caused a bank, similar to a fog bank, which distracted drivers and caused unsafe driving conditions.
The local rugby club had held a fireworks display that evening. This has become the focus for an investigation. Avon and Somerset Police Assistant Chief Constable Anthony Bangham said people who had attended the fireworks display will be interviewed by officers. Whether or not the rugby club can be held accountable is a major question. It is unclear so far if there was a license required for the fireworks display.
Police said 131 feet of the carriageway had been damaged by spilled fuel and 197 feet was charred by intense fire. The vehicles involved in the crash took 2 days to be removed from the scene. The motorway was closed between junctions 24 and 25 after the crash, but was reopened on Sunday night.
The medical examiner for West Somerset, Michael Rose, said he planned to conduct autopsies of the seven victims of the crash on Thursday.
The rugby club said its thoughts and prayers were with the families of those affected by the accident. Hundreds of people have paid tribute to the dead and injured and their families on Facebook.
-Amelia Hernigle
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-15615992
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