TEN people, most thought to be schoolchildren, died this morning after
a Ford Transit van crashed on a motorway
Six others were critically injured in the crash, in which the van ran
into the back of a stationary motorway maintenance vehicle on the M40 in
Warwickshire and burst into flames.
As firemen continued to work to free bodies from the wreckage, an
investigation was launched into how the crash happened.
The collision happened near junction 15, the A46 turn-off for
Stratford, Coventry and Warwick, while workmen were removing cones as
the closure of the northbound ''slow'' lane was ended.
The minibus burst into flames after the crash, which happened between
12.30am and 12.45am. All the dead and injured were in it.
The six injured were taken to South Warwickshire Hospital in Warwick.
The death toll was among the worst in British motorway history. ''It
is the worst road accident in Warwickshire in terms of fatalities,'' the
police spokesman said.
In this morning's crash, the workmen in the Warwickshire County
Council maintenance lorry were unhurt but shocked.
''Conditions were good at the time and a full accident investigation
will be looking at matters like speed, lighting for the road works, and
all other relevant matters,'' the police spokesman said.
It was not known whether the Transit van had been converted in any way
to carry passengers, said the police spokesman.
''We understand that most if not all of the passengers were
schoolchildren.''
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