Three more victims of M1 crash named as lorry drivers are charged 

The crash involved a minibus and two lorries 
The crash involved a minibus and two lorries  Credit: London News Pictures Ltd

Three IT workers are among eight people killed in a crash on the M1, it has emerged as two lorry drivers have been charged by police. 

Three further passengers of the minibus which was taking a group of family and friends on holiday - including a five-year-old girl - are fighting for their lives. 

It is understood that the group of 11 passengers were being driven to London to meet a coach which was taking them on a last minute holiday to France. 

Three of the six men and two women who lost their lives in the pile-up have now been named Indian nationals who were working for Nottingham firm Capital One. 

A spokesman for Wipro, the agency which had arranged the contracts, said: "It is with deep regret and sadness that we confirm the passing away of three of our colleagues, Karthikeyan Ramasubramaniyam Pugalur, Rishi Rajeev Kumar, and Vivek Bhaskaran in a tragic road accident in the UK."

Another employeee, Mano Ranjan Panneerselvam, is one of those critically injured in hospital along with the five-year-old girl who is understood to be the daughter of one of the other passengers.

Mr Panneerselvam's wife and mother are said by relatives to be the other women who were hospitalised, whilst three of his family members are understood to be among the dead. 

 Cyriac Joseph, the driver of the minbus, was also named by friends as one of those who lost their lives in the pile-up. 

He had been hired to take the group from Nottingham to London when the crash happened near Newport Pagnell in Buckinghamshire in the early hours of Saturday morning. 

Remain of the minius, which was in two pieces, are pictured being removed from scene on the M1 motorway
Remain of the minius, which was in two pieces, are pictured being removed from scene on the M1 motorway Credit:  London News Pictures Ltd

Ryszard Masierak, 31, of Evesham, Worcestershire, is accused of 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 alcohol limit.

David Wagstaff, 53, of Stoke-on-Trent, is charged with eight counts of causing death by dangerous driving and four counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

Brett Smith, who passed the scene in a taxi before the emergency services arrived and stopped to help the little girl, said: "A family has been destroyed. I held a little girl by her arms, trapped inside a vehicle, for a good hour or so with the emergency services and the fire service trying to help.

"I walked home with a blanket that the ambulance service provided me to stay warm because the little girl has got my jacket to keep herself safe. The fire and ambulances services did a really good job."

Cyriac Joseph, driver of minibus in M1 crash
Cyriac Joseph, driver of minibus in M1 crash

Ch Insp Henry Parsons, from the Joint Operations Unit for Roads Policing at Thames Valley Police, said: "Some of those involved were visiting the UK from India and we are working to keep families abroad informed. "

 

The FedEd lorry involved in the M1 collision
The FedEd lorry involved in the M1 collision Credit:  Ben Cawthra/LNP

Soyimon Joseph paid tribute to his friend Mr Joseph, also known as Benny, saying he had seen him the night before the crash.

In a Facebook post he wrote: "Hearty condolences. I never thought yesterday 10 pm you say thank you to me it was our last meeting."

He described the crash as "devastating", saying the father of two had been married to his wife Ancy for two decades and the family had moved to the UK from Kerala, in southern India, five years ago. 

Pictures of the vehicles appeared to show a FedEx lorry with its cab crushed and the cab of an AIM Logistics lorry twisted around to the side.

Rescue workers clear up the wreckage near Newport Pagnell
Rescue workers clear up the wreckage near Newport Pagnell Credit:  Ben Cawthra/LNP

Another image showed what appeared to be the crumpled wreckage of the minibus on the back of a flatbed truck.

Broken glass and debris from the collision was scattered across the tarmac. Spokesmen for AIM Logistics and FedEx expressed sympathies to those who lost loved ones in the crash, and said the companies were assisting police with their inquiries.

Mr Masierak was remanded in custody to appear before Milton Keynes Magistrates' Court on Monday whilst Mr Wagstaff was bailed to appear before the same court on September 11.

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