2011 M5 motorway crash

Multi-vehicle road collision in fog near Taunton, England January 2014 July 2020 2011_M5_crash.jpg 240px The M5 on 5 November 2011, the day after the crash 20:25 UTC 2011 11 4 yes Bathpool and Creech St Michael (near Taunton), Somerset, England 51.0239 -3.0568 region:GB-SOM_type:event inline,title 51 7 34 vehicles; road surface scorched, debris fused into road surface; safety barrier damage 1 person charged under health and safety laws Not guilty Somerset 240 center none Location in Somerset and England M5 motorway crash 51.024 -3.057 thumb|The scene of the crash on 4 November 2011 thumb|Looking southbound towards the crash site (2006) On 4 November 2011, a multiple-vehicle collision occurred on the M5 motorway near Taunton, Somerset, in South West England. The crash involved dozens of cars and articulated lorries, and a large fireball ensued.Seven Confirmed Dead in M5 Accident in Somerset https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-15606278 6 November 2011 BBC News 5 November 2011 live https://web.archive.org/web/20111105233631/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-15606278 5 November 2011 Seven people were killed and 51 others were injured, making the pile-up the deadliest on a British motorway since 13 people – 12 of them children – died in a minibus crash on the M40 in 1993. In October 2012, a man who had organised and was operating a fireworks display for Guy Fawkes Night at Taunton Rugby Club's ground, which is adjacent to the motorway, was charged with seven counts of manslaughter. In January 2013, the manslaughter charges were dropped and instead he faced a single charge under health and safety laws of failing to ensure the safety of others. In December 2013 he was found not guilty of the charge. In April 2014, the West Somerset coroner concluded that the accident was caused by dense fog, and that smoke from fireworks may have been a contributory factor, but was not the prime cause of the incident.M5 crash: Relatives of victims react to inquest https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-27071825 17 April 2014 BBC News 17 April 2014 live https://web.archive.org/web/20140627020548/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-27071825 27 June 2014 Circumstances At 8:25 pm on Friday 4 November 2011, 34 vehicles were involved in a pile-up on the northbound carriageway of the M5 motorway near junction 25 at Bathpool and Creech St Michael, 2.2 mi km northeast of Taunton.O'Carroll Lisa M5 Crash: Latest Updates: Live https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2011/nov/05/m5-crash-latest-updates-live?intcmp=239 5 November 2011 The Guardian 5 November 2011 London live https://web.archive.org/web/20140114043603/http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2011/nov/05/m5-crash-latest-updates-live?intcmp=239 14 January 2014 The vehicles included cars, vans and lorries, some of which exploded and started a fire. Flames rose up to 20 ft m 0 high. Fifty-one people were injured and seven were later confirmed dead. Sixteen casualties were treated at Musgrove Park Hospital in Taunton and 26 at Yeovil District Hospital.M5 Crash: Fears 'More Than 10 Killed' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-15603124 6 November 2011 BBC News 5 November 2011 live https://web.archive.org/web/20111106011923/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-15603124 6 November 2011 A surgeon was flown by helicopter from the major trauma centre at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital to cope with the load and the types of multi-system trauma, including multiple fractures and chest, abdominal and lung injuries. Fifteen fire engines from Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service attended, travelling from stations across the region.Incident — Multiple vehicle road traffic collision on M5 http://www.dsfire.gov.uk/News/Newsdesk/IncidentDetail.cfm?IncidentID=18392&siteCategoryId=3&T1ID=26&T2ID=41 Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service 6 November 2011 live https://web.archive.org/web/20171126214125/http://www.dsfire.gov.uk/News/Newsdesk/IncidentDetail.cfm?IncidentID=18392&siteCategoryId=3&T1ID=26&T2ID=41 26 November 2017 By 8:30 am on 6 November the emergency services had removed the vehicles from the crash site, but both carriageways of the motorway, between junctions 24 and 25, remained closed for repair work. The fatalities had not yet been formally identified.Update to M5 collision http://www.avonandsomerset.police.uk/LocalPages/NewsDetails.aspx?nsid=24542&t=1&lid=1 Avon and Somerset Constabulary 6 November 2011 6 November 2011 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20111106225255/http://www.avonandsomerset.police.uk/LocalPages/NewsDetails.aspx?nsid=24542&t=1&lid=1 6 November 2011 40 m off of the road was damaged by fuel spillage from vehicles, and 60 m off of it was damaged by intense fire and explosions. Two lanes of the southbound carriageway reopened at about 5 pm on 6 November, and the motorway was fully re-opened in both directions four hours later, in time for the Monday morning rush-hour. Aftermath and reaction right 300px Images of the crash and aftermath The Guardian One of the lorries involved was from the food company Samworth Brothers, and another was from Samworth subsidiary Ginsters. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cornwall-15611008 BBC News 6 November 2011 M5 crash involved Cornwall firm Ginsters lorry 7 November 2011 live https://web.archive.org/web/20111107215840/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cornwall-15611008 7 November 2011 Two of the company's drivers were killed and another was injured in the crash. On 8 November, the seven people who died were named: lorry drivers Terry Brice and Kye Thomas; father and daughter Michael and Maggie Barton; grandparents Anthony and Pamela Adams; and Malcolm Beacham. https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2011/nov/07/m5-crash-victims-named-fireworks-connection M5 crash victims named as police investigate fireworks connection Steven Morris The Guardian 7 November 2011 10 November 2011 London live https://web.archive.org/web/20131001063403/http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2011/nov/07/m5-crash-victims-named-fireworks-connection 1 October 2013 One eyewitness described the scene of the crash, saying: "It was a horrific accident. There were a number of explosions and black smoke. It's not something you expect to see on the motorway, it was more like a scene from Afghanistan." https://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/news/8872500/M5-motorway-crash-it-was-like-Afghanistan.html M5 motorway crash: 'it was like Afghanistan' Sean Rayment Roya Nikkhah The Daily Telegraph 5 November 2011 13 November 2011 London live https://web.archive.org/web/20111112082148/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/news/8872500/M5-motorway-crash-it-was-like-Afghanistan.html 12 November 2011 Investigation Initially, an assistant chief constable of Avon and Somerset Police, Anthony Bangham, told reporters that it was feared more bodies were still trapped in badly-burnt vehicles, some of which had been "burnt to the ground" and were unrecognisable. After an overnight forensic search no further bodies were found.Rayment Sean M5 Motorway Crash: Death Toll Remains as No More Bodies Found Overnight https://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/news/8872644/M5-motorway-crash-death-toll-remains-as-no-more-bodies-found-overnight.html 6 November 2011 The Telegraph 6 November 2011 Nikkhah, Roya London live https://web.archive.org/web/20111106183157/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/news/8872644/M5-motorway-crash-death-toll-remains-as-no-more-bodies-found-overnight.html 6 November 2011 Police stated that a fireworks display taking place at Taunton Rugby Club just before the accident occurred was a "major line of inquiry", as "a blanket of thick smoke", which could have drifted from the display, was lying across the motorway at the time of the crash. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-15612315 BBC News M5 crash: Firework display is 'major line of inquiry' 6 November 2011 6 November 2011 live https://web.archive.org/web/20111106171940/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-15612315 6 November 2011Morris Steven M5 Crash: Police Investigate Rugby Club Fireworks Display https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/nov/06/m5-crash-investigate-fireworks-display 7 November 2011 The Guardian 7 November 2011 Siddique, Haroon London live https://web.archive.org/web/20131001064309/http://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/nov/06/m5-crash-investigate-fireworks-display 1 October 2013 The club's location was described as only "a few hundred metres" away from the M5.Morris Steven M5 crash: the law on fireworks displays https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2011/nov/07/m5-crash-law-fireworks-displays?newsfeed=true 8 November 2011 The Guardian 7 November 2011 London live https://web.archive.org/web/20140114043554/http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2011/nov/07/m5-crash-law-fireworks-displays?newsfeed=true 14 January 2014 Bangham went on to say: "Accountability is clearly something we will look at ... it is a crime investigation as well as a road policing investigation." He added that driving conditions were "difficult", and that there was fog in the area at the time of the accident. http://www.westernmorningnews.co.uk/Police-investigate-smoke-possible-cause-M5-pile/story-13763109-detail/story.html Western Morning News Police investigate smoke as possible cause of M5 pile-up in which seven died Jon Bayley 7 November 2011 15 February 2016 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20140115044859/http://www.westernmorningnews.co.uk/Police-investigate-smoke-possible-cause-M5-pile/story-13763109-detail/story.html 15 January 2014 Justine Greening, the Transport Secretary, told the House of Commons that it might take weeks to determine the cause of the crash. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-15630203 M5 crash: 'Weeks' before cause known BBC News 7 November 2011 8 November 2011 live https://web.archive.org/web/20111108172434/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-15630203 8 November 2011 An inquest into the deaths was opened at the Old Municipal Building in Taunton on 10 November.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-15669967 BBC News M5 crash victims' inquest opens in Taunton 10 November 2011 10 November 2011 live https://web.archive.org/web/20111110181644/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-15669967 10 November 2011http://www.yeovilexpress.co.uk/news/9356808.TAUNTON_M5_CRASH__Inquests_opened/ Yeovil Express Taunton M5 crash: inquests opened 10 November 2011 13 November 2011 live https://web.archive.org/web/20120406153224/http://www.yeovilexpress.co.uk/news/9356808.TAUNTON_M5_CRASH__Inquests_opened/ 6 April 2012 A report by consultants Balfour Beatty-Mott McDonald into warning systems on the motorway in April 2010 recommended the Highways Agency automate the fog warning system. The system then in place was manually activated, using CCTV imagery or relying on the police notifying the agency. No such reports had been received on the night of the crash, and the fog warning signs had not been activated.M5 report identified fog risk before crash https://web.archive.org/web/20111212174737/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-16135785 12 December 2011 BBC News, 12 December 2011. Retrieved 28 December 2011. On 13 March 2012, following media reports that interim findings from the investigation showed fog rather than drifting smoke was to blame,http://www.thisissomerset.co.uk/Somerset-M5-crash-Taunton-RFC-fireworks-display/story-15497029-detail/story.html Taunton Rugby Club cleared as report highlights fog and driver error 12 March 2012 thisissomerset.co.uk A police inquiry into the cause of the M5 crash in which seven people died and another 51 were injured has concluded drifting smoke from a nearby fireworks party was not to blame. 24 March 2012 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20120315014031/http://www.thisissomerset.co.uk/Somerset-M5-crash-Taunton-RFC-fireworks-display/story-15497029-detail/story.html 15 March 2012 police issued a statement to clarify that they had not published any conclusions to the investigation.http://www.avonandsomerset.police.uk/LocalPages/NewsDetails.aspx?nsid=25313&t=1&lid=5 Avon and Somerset Constabulary – Investigation continues into M5 road traffic collision (Taunton) Avon and Somerset Constabulary 13 March 2012 24 March 2012September 2018 InternetArchiveBot yes Prosecution On 19 October 2012, Geoffrey Counsell, a 50-year-old man from Somerset who had provided the fireworks display at Taunton Rugby Club, was charged with seven counts of manslaughter. He appeared at Bristol magistrates' court on 12 Novemberhttp://news.sky.com/story/1000093/m5-pile-up-man-charged-over-seven-deaths Sky News M5 Pile-Up: Man Charged Over Seven Deaths 19 October 2012 19 October 2012 live https://web.archive.org/web/20121021005021/http://news.sky.com/story/1000093/m5-pile-up-man-charged-over-seven-deaths 21 October 2012https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-20012262 BBC News M5 crash deaths: Geoffrey Counsell on manslaughter charges 19 October 2012 19 October 2012 live https://web.archive.org/web/20121019221423/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-20012262 19 October 2012 and was bailed until 4 December when he appeared at Bristol Crown Court for an initial preliminary hearing.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-20297215 BBC News – M5 crash deaths accused Geoffrey Counsell is bailed BBC 12 November 2012 17 November 2012 live https://web.archive.org/web/20121114230030/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-20297215 14 November 2012 Counsell was bailed again until an additional preliminary hearing at the court on 15 January 2013.http://www.thisisthewestcountry.co.uk/news/somerset_news/10086943.Somerset_M5_crash__Fireworks_boss_to_attend_another_hearing_in_January/?ref=nt Somerset M5 crash: Fireworks boss bailed to attend another hearing in January (From This is The West Country) Thisisthewestcountry.co.uk 4 December 2012 19 November 2013 live https://web.archive.org/web/20131213195623/http://www.thisisthewestcountry.co.uk/news/somerset_news/10086943.Somerset_M5_crash__Fireworks_boss_to_attend_another_hearing_in_January/?ref=nt 13 December 2013 At a 15 January hearing the manslaughter charges against Counsell were dropped. He instead was charged with a single count of failing to ensure the safety of others, under health and safety laws.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-21024902 BBC News – Manslaughter charges dropped in M5 crash case BBC 15 January 2013 19 November 2013 live https://web.archive.org/web/20130314053717/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-21024902 14 March 2013 His trial began on 19 Novemberhttp://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/fireworks-display-contractor-denies-breaching-6316788 Fireworks display contractor denies breaching safety rules after M5 pile-up Wales Online 4 November 2011 19 November 2013 live https://web.archive.org/web/20131119170920/http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/fireworks-display-contractor-denies-breaching-6316788 19 November 2013 and concluded on 10 December when the judge directed the jury to find him not guilty of the charge, stating that Counsell had "no case to answer" and that there was not sufficient evidence that he should have foreseen smoke from the display might drift and mix with fog to form thick smog.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-25316055 Geoffrey Counsell cleared over M5 fireworks deaths 10 December 2013 BBC News live https://web.archive.org/web/20131210234638/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-25316055 10 December 2013 After the trial Counsell criticised the police and local council for being "motivated by a desire to find someone to blame for this terrible accident, simply for the sake of it", saying that the Highways Agency, Taunton Deane Borough Council and Avon and Somerset police were all consulted before the event but "no objection of any kind was raised".https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/fireworks-contractor-geoffrey-counsell-tells-of-relief-as-he-is-cleared-over-foggy-night-m5-crash-deaths-8995158.html Fireworks contractor Geoffrey Counsell tells of relief as he is cleared over foggy night M5 crash deaths 10 December 2013 London The Independent live https://web.archive.org/web/20150925160016/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/fireworks-contractor-geoffrey-counsell-tells-of-relief-as-he-is-cleared-over-foggy-night-m5-crash-deaths-8995158.html 25 September 2015 See also List of road accidents 2010–2019 1991 M4 motorway crash 1997 M42 motorway crash 2010 A66 Keswick coach accident 2017 M1 motorway crash M40 Minibus Crash References 30em M5 motorway crash Category:2011 in England M5 motorway crash Category:2010s road incidents in the United Kingdom Category:2010s in Somerset Category:Disasters in Somerset Category:Road incidents involving fog Category:M5 motorway Category:November 2011 in the United Kingdom Category:Road incidents in England Category:Transport in Somerset