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Six young people killed as Mondeo crashes with lorry
Jack Lefley, Evening Standard10 Jul 2008
Six young people were killed when the car they were travelling in hit a lorry head-on today.
The black Ford Mondeo was partially crushed beneath the goods vehicle on a rural road in Leicestershire in the early hours of this morning. The driver was a 23-year-old man from Leicestershire.
Police said the group all died at the scene after the crash on the A607 near Melton Mowbray. The emergency services had attended with cutting equipment but the six could not be helped.
Their bodies were still in the car today as a crane arrived at the scene to begin the grim task of removing them.
Officers said they were working to identify the dead, who are all believed to be young and from the Leicester area, but that formal identification was not expected today.
The 48-year-old driver of the lorry, which ended up on the wrong side of the road, was initially arrested but later released and taken to hospital suffering from chest pains.
Sergeant Simon Adkin, of Leicestershire Police, said: "The investigation is in its very early stages but it appears that the vehicles collided head-on.
"We are still going through the process of establishing the identifications of the deceased but I do believe they are all from the Leicester area.
"The lorry driver is now being treated as a significant witness. We need to trace any other potential witnesses who were travelling along the A607 at the time."
Speaking at the scene, he added: "Any fatality is upsetting for anybody concerned but to have six people killed in one incident is certainly harrowing for everybody. Our hearts go out to the families of all those concerned."
The crash happened a mile south of Melton Mowbray town centre at around
1.54am and the car is believed to have been travelling towards Leicester.
A section of the A607 is closed for the police investigation and is expected to remain shut for most of today.
The lorry driver is thought to have been on his way back to the depot at logistics and transport firm Norbert Detressangle in Easton, Lincolnshire when the crash happened.
A Norbert Detressangle spokeswoman confirmed one of its staff members was involved in the accident.
Local residents said the stretch of road where the crash happened was known to be dangerous.
Joy Catlin, 47, who lives in the nearby village of Asfordby and can see the the A607 from her house, said: "There are a number of really bad bends along that road.
"It's a really bad stretch of road. There was an accident on one of the bends the other day. If you don't know the road well, it's difficult to drive. There's an S-bend, followed by another bend - it's really bad."
Reader views (4)
The one thing i question about this crash is why was there 6 people in a car that could only seat five? i own a mondeo and 5 is a strech.
- Daniel Martin, Basingstoke, Hampshire, 09/11/2009 00:13
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I agree with other comments. A couple of years ago 8 young people were killed in a powerful BMW on its way to Brighton. The driver was 19, he crossed the central reservation on a dual carriageway and killed a family of three travelling in the opposite direction. Again, some people who should have known better (like the local MP)
said the road was dangerous and tended to make people pull over to the right. I have travelled that road many times and never have I felt the slightest influence on me to drift to the right - much less cross the central reservation. A far more likely combination of circumstances is "19 year old driver", "powerful BMW" and 4 young female passengers to whom the driver might have been showing off. There is absolutely nothing dangerous about the road!
- Tom Cleeve, Croydon, UK, 15/10/2008 13:43
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A road is dangerous when the speed is not matched with the conditions, if its a a bend you have to slow down, if there is fog its more dangerous, never bring in the excuse of the road being a danger, danger is brought about by speed the more the speed the more the danger, no excuse.
- Ray Meilak, St Julian's, Malta, 15/10/2008 12:43
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People talk about dangerous roads - there is no such thing as dangerous roads - only dangerous or poor drivers - the road didn't suddenly change its shape and cause this crash - it was an error or judgement on the part of a driver - or indeed - maybe a mechanical fault on one of the vehicles - which will be known when the vehicles are inspected.
It is still a tragic unnecessary loss of life and I am sure our hearts go out to all those families and friends of those involved.
- Barry Kenward, Portchester - Hampshire, 15/10/2008 12:43
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