LONDON: - Eight people died and four were injured early Saturday after a collision on an English motorway involving two lorries and a minibus, police said. The accident happened shortly before 3:15 am (0215 GMT) on the southbound carriageway of the M1 motorway near Newport Pagnell, northwest of London. All those killed and the four injured - one of them a child - were in the minibus, which is believed to have set off from the Nottingham area in the northeast of England. - AFP

Police arrested the drivers of both lorries. One driver, 31, was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and driving when over the limit; the other driver, 53, on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving. </s> Two people have died and three more are being treated for serious injuries after a lorry and a minibus crashed on a motorway.

Air ambulances were called to a stretch of the M4 in Berkshire at 12.20pm on Thursday after the two vehicles collided.

The two people killed were travelling in the minibus and died at the scene.

Six other people on board the minibus were taken to hospital for treatment, with three of them having suffered serious injuries.

The driver of the lorry was also taken to hospital with minor injuries.

The stretch of the M4 between junction 14 at Hungerford and junction 13 at Chieveley is closed in the eastbound direction.

Earlier on Thursday, the motorway was closed in both directions so the air ambulances could land.

Police have also been trying to turn around drivers caught in the tailback.

Police are appealing for anyone who saw what happened or has dash-cam footage to call 101. </s> Eight people died and another four were injured when two lorries and a minibus collided on one of Britain’s main north-south motorways early on Saturday at the start of a busy bank holiday weekend.

The collision occurred in the southbound lane of the M1 motorway, near the English town of Newport Pagnell, 50 miles (80 km) northwest of London.

The minibus was believed to have travelled from the Nottingham area, police said.

Two men have been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving. They are both currently in custody. </s> EDINBURGH, Aug 26 (Reuters) - Several people died when two lorries and a minibus collided on Britain's main north-south motorway early on Saturday at the start of a busy bank holiday weekend, police said.

Four others were injured in the collision in the southbound lane of the M1 motorway, near the English town of Newport Pagnell, 50 miles (80 km) northwest of London, the force added.

The minibus was believed to have travelled from the Nottingham area, police said. (Reporting by Elisabeth O'Leary; Editing by Andrew Heavens) </s> A major accident in southern England on Saturday led to the deaths of six men and two women, including at least one Indian, PTI reported. The mishap took place at the M1 highway at Newport Pagnell in Buckinghamshire, when two trucks crushed the minibus the passengers were travelling in.

The driver of the minibus, who died in the crash, has been identified as Cyriac Joseph. Joseph was originally from Kerala and had been living in the United Kingdom for the past 15 years.

It is not known whether any of the other deceased were of Indian nationality. However, BBC reported police officers as saying that some of those aboard the minibus were Indians on a UK trip. “We are extending all possible assistance to those affected by this tragedy,” the Indian High Commission in London said.

A five-year-old girl, a man and a woman were critically injured and in hospital. Another woman suffered serious injuries.

The two truck drivers, 31-year-old Ryszard Masierak and 53-year-old David Wagstaff, were arrested from the scene of the accident and charged with eight counts of causing death by dangerous driving. Masierak has also been charged with driving while over the prescribed alcohol limit. </s> Several people died when two lorries and a minibus collided on Britain’s main north-south motorway early on Saturday at the start of a busy bank holiday weekend, police said.

Four others were injured in the collision just before 3.15 a.m. (0230 GMT) in the southbound lane of the M1 motorway, near the English town of Newport Pagnell, 50 miles (80 km) northwest of London, the force added.

Two men have been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and are being held in custody, Thames Valley police said in a statement.

The minibus was believed to have travelled from the Nottingham area, police said.

“We would ask all motorists to please avoid the area, use alternative routes and await further updates before attempting to travel on this route,” Chief Inspector Henry Parsons said. </s> Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Aerial footage shows the scene of the crash involving a minibus and lorry

The driver of an autism school minibus involved in a motorway crash with a lorry has died.

Police said a third person died in hospital on Friday after two people died at the scene of the collision on the M4 on Thursday.

The victims, who were all in the minibus, were staff members at Prior's Court School in Thatcham, Berkshire.

Prior's Court chief executive Mike Robinson said the school "will never quite be the same again".

He added: "The staff at Prior's Court are remarkable people and they are doing extraordinary things to transform the lives of those young people who are most challenged by autism.

"We are absolutely devastated that three of our colleagues have lost their lives."

Mr Robinson said the school would "honour the memory of those who we have lost by making sure that they carry on the great work that those people have started".

Image copyright INS News Image caption The crash happened on the eastbound carriageway of the M4

Two other minibus passengers, who suffered life-threatening injuries, remain in a "critical condition" in hospital, Mr Robinson said.

He added the school was "unbelievably blessed" that three young adults suffered less serious injuries, with two being discharged from hospital.

One young adult from the school remains in hospital to recover from an operation.

Prior's Court Foundation is a charity providing schooling and provision for people aged between five and 25 who have severe autism and complex learning difficulties.

Insp Andy Storey said the lorry driver, who suffered minor injuries, had also been discharged.

Thames Valley Police said there have been no arrests over the crash.

Insp Storey added: "The ongoing investigation will seek to establish what happened in this tragic incident.

"Specially trained family liaison officers are providing support to the families and we are in regular contact with the school."

Image copyright INS News Image caption A lorry and minibus were involved in the crash

The crash happened at about 12:20 BST on the eastbound carriageway of the M4 between junction 14 at Hungerford and junction 13 at Newbury of the M4.

The westbound carriageway was initially closed to allow three air ambulances to land and the eastbound side remained closed for about nine hours.

Thames Valley Police has appealed for anyone who saw what happened or has dashcam footage to contact them. </s> Six Injured In Serious Minibus Crash On M4 In Berkshire

Six people have been hurt in a serious crash on the M4 in Berkshire.



A lorry and a minibus collided on the eastbound stretch between junction 14 at Hungerford and 13 at Chieveley.

Three of the victims have life-threatening injuries.

Emergency crews say the road is likely to be closed for several hours.

It's reported the lorry may have hit the back of the minibus.



"We received multiple emergency 999 calls just after 12.15 this afternoon reporting a serious collision between a lorry and a minibus on the M4 eastbound between junctions 14 and 15.

"We sent three air ambulances (Thames Valley, Hampshire & Isle of Wight, Great Western) to the scene, along with the Hampshire & Isle of Wight critical care car, six ambulances, a bronze ambulance officer in a rapid response vehicle and a silver officer/incident commander in a rapid response vehicle.

"Three people in the minibus had sustained life-threatening injuries; one was flown to the major trauma centre at the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, one went by road to the major trauma centre at the John Radcliffe Hospital, and the third was flown to the major trauma centre at Bristol Southmead Hospital.

"Three further people in the minibus had sustained less serious injuries, two of whom were taken by road to the Great Western Hospital, Swindon, and the third to the Royal Berkshire Hospital, Reading."

Police remain at the scene investigating how the crash happened. They have not reported anyone being arrested. </s> Update 5.21pmSix men and two women were killed when their minibus and two lorries crashed on a motorway, leaving three other passengers fighting for their lives.

Among the three people taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries were a five-year-old girl, a man and a woman, Thames Valley Police said.

A fourth person was admitted to hospital with less severe injuries after the collision on the southbound carriageway of the M1 near Newport Pagnell, between junctions 15 and 14.

Some of those on board the minibus were visiting the UK from India.

Picture of the scene where eight people have died after a motorway crash involving two lorries and a minibus on the southbound carriageway of the M1. Pic: @ItsOllieYT

Update 12.39pm Eight people have died after a motorway crash involving two lorries and a minibus.

Earlier: Several people have died after a motorway crash involving two lorries and a minibus.

Thames Valley Police were called shortly before 3.15am on Saturday to the southbound carriageway of the M1 near Newport Pagnell, between junctions 15 and 14.

The crash involved two lorries and a minibus, which were travelling in the same direction.

It is thought the minibus had travelled from the Nottingham area.

Several people were killed and four people were taken to hospital, Thames Valley Police said.

Two men have been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and are in custody.

The motorway is closed southbound between junctions 14 and 15, and motorists are being advised to avoid the area.

Chief Inspector Henry Parsons from the joint operations unit for roads policing, said: "Emergency services are currently on the scene responding to this collision and road closures are in place.

"I would appeal to anyone who witnessed the collision and has not yet spoken to officers to please contact us.

"Anyone who has any information which could assist the investigation should call the 24-hour Thames Valley Police inquiry centre on 101 quoting URN 214 of 26/8."
Three people are killed and two are injured after a lorry crashes into a minibus in Thatcham, England.