Latest M4 crash - 940 and mondeo

[niloc]

From BBC news:
(Appropriate points have been made bold)

Police watchdog probes M4 deaths

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) has been called in after a collision on the M4 at Newport in which five people died.

A sixth person has been seriously injured in the crash at 0320 BST which has shut the motorway both ways.

Three young men in one car died at the scene and a fourth, 18, is being treated in hospital, the Welsh Ambulance Service confirmed.

A couple - a man and a woman in the second car - also died at the scene.

The collision between a Red Ford Mondeo and a Red Volvo 940 happened happened on the eastbound carriageway between junctions 25 and 24 in Newport.

The IPCC has said it has been asked to carry out an investigation.

Gwent Police have said the M4 will be closed for some time

A spokesman said: "I can confirm that Gwent Police have referred the incident to us.

"I haven't got any further details but I know it is on the grounds that, prior to the incident, there was some form of police involvement."

The M4 is closed between J28 (Coldra) and J24 (Tredegar Park) eastbound and J24 and J26 (Malpas Road) westbound.

Gwent Police has said the motorway will be closed for the foreseeable future, and they are urging motorists to avoid the area.

Diversions have been put in place along the A48 Southern Distributor road towards Newport.

There are currently tailbacks of up to five miles.

How the accident happened is still "under investigation" (although police involvement was mentioned in the report)...

[niloc]

I've just heard that one of the cars was stolen, and being chased by police. I assume it is the mondeo.

[Viper_7]

How did the mondeo end up upside down - yet still pretty much connected to the Volvo?

It's almost as if it was upside down at the point of impact.

[CTCNetwork]

Hi,

Originally Posted by niloc

I've just heard that one of the cars was stolen, and being chased by police. I assume it is the mondeo.

On that basis, one could assume the mondeo was driving excessively?
Hence why there doesn't look to be much left of it..

Sad (and stupid) waste of life...

Des. . .

[niloc]

*update*....

Originally Posted by guardian.co.uk

Five people were killed after a car pursued by police drove the wrong way down a motorway and crashed into another vehicle.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) will probe the incident which occurred shortly after 3am on the eastbound carriageway of the M4 in Newport, south Wales.

Tom Davies, IPCC Commissioner, said: "It has emerged that at around 3am this morning a marked police vehicle had reason to try and stop a car containing four male occupants."

Early indications are that the vehicle being pursued took a turn on to the motorway in the wrong direction. The police vehicle did not follow it.

Some one-and-a-half-miles down the motorway, the fatal collision occurred.

"Both Gwent Police and South Wales Police road traffic investigators are co-operating with our team who have been at the scene since the early hours of the morning."

I have deep sympathy for those in the Volvo, and the relatives and friends of those that died. I do not, however, have any sympathy for those in the stolen car. I hope that the single survivor (from the mondeo) gets what's due to him (after all, it made me late for work).

[CTCNetwork]

Hi,

Originally Posted by niloc

*update*....

I have deep sympathy for those in the Volvo, and the relatives and friends of those that died. I do not, however, have any sympathy for those in the stolen car. I hope that the single survivor (from the mondeo) gets what's due to him (after all, it made me late for work).

Indeed.

I have noting but contempt and disgust for those in the stolen vehicle.
May the survivor die a painful death. Sooner preferably as it will save NHS resources better spent saving worthwhile lives.

Des. . .

[niloc]

Road details:
The Volvo would have been travelling up hill, approaching a left hand bend. There are trees on the side of the motorway there, so seeing around the bend is impossible. I feel that whetever action the volvo driver took to avoid the collision, was mirrored by the stolen car (e.g., volvo pulled left to avoid, mondeo pulled right). With a closing speed of AROUND 150mph, on a blind bend in the middle of the night (wondering if the mondeo had lights on?), it was a case of "wrong place, wrong time" for the volvo driver, and no time to take appropriate evasive action.
However, looking at the picture, it could be that the mondeo hit the central reservation, and the rebound caught the volvo. Only time and accident reports will tell.
Very unlucky, and very sad. I just hope that this makes "joyriders" think again, although no joy was brought here. My guess is that people are well aware of the risks, and live on the old "it'll never happen to me" motto.

[scottishvolvo]

What a waste of a very precious commodity that some people take for granted.
Hope and pray the Volvo occupants aren't known on the forums.

[RichardK850]

Originally Posted by niloc

Very unlucky, and very sad. I just hope that this makes "joyriders" think again.

That, my friend, would involve these people thinking in the first place. Something which I suspect is becoming genetically precluded; I swear that they're a different species.

[pcdoc]

not pointing the finger but I hate that phrase "Joyriders" they are, without exception "THIEVES" and when lives are affected they are also guilty of "Manslaughter" and should, although most of the time are not, dealt with accordingly.

As CTCN said a sad and stupid waste of life