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Wrong-way driver passed 12 cars Motorway crash deaths 'unlawful'
(about 1 hour later)
The driver of a speeding car which went the wrong way down a motorway to evade police passed 12 oncoming vehicles before smashing into a Volvo at 80mph. Verdicts of unlawful killing by gross negligence have been returned on four people killed in a head-on crash on the M4 motorway.
An inquest heard the Ford Mondeo car, driven by Christopher Beresford reached 113mph at some points near Newport. A jury found that three men in a Ford Mondeo, driven the wrong way at up to 113mph on the eastbound M4 near Newport, were unlawfully killed.
James Stafford, 69, and his wife, Bridget, 70, of Surrey, who were in the other car, were killed in the crash. The same verdicts were returned on an elderly Surrey couple in a second car.
A misadventure verdict was returned on the driver, 18, who was evading a police pursuit and had taken cocaine.
The inquest had heard how Christopher Beresford drove onto the motorway the wrong way in the Mondeo to before smashing into a Volvo carrying James and Bridget Stafford, who were 69 and 70.
His car reached 113mph at some points near Newport and passed 12 other oncoming cars.
Neither the Mondeo or the Volvo braked prior to impact Pc Christopher Goddard, Gwent Police
Mr Beresford, 18, and passengers Lee Maggs, 23, and Sam Case, 19, all of Newport, also died on the M4.Mr Beresford, 18, and passengers Lee Maggs, 23, and Sam Case, 19, all of Newport, also died on the M4.
The inquest jury retired to consider its verdict on Thursday afternoon.
The crash happened on the M4 near junction 24 at Newport on 17 September last year, as the Staffords travelled home to Thornton Heath following a holiday in Ireland.The crash happened on the M4 near junction 24 at Newport on 17 September last year, as the Staffords travelled home to Thornton Heath following a holiday in Ireland.
Pc Christopher Goddard, a collision investigator with Gwent Police, said tests showed, at the moment of impact, the Mondeo driven by Mr Beresford was travelling at just over 80mph. The speedometer in the Staffords' Volvo 940 had stuck at 78mph.Pc Christopher Goddard, a collision investigator with Gwent Police, said tests showed, at the moment of impact, the Mondeo driven by Mr Beresford was travelling at just over 80mph. The speedometer in the Staffords' Volvo 940 had stuck at 78mph.
Neither the Mondeo or the Volvo braked prior to impact Pc Christopher Goddard, Gwent Police
Pc Goddard said the Ford Mondeo had passed a mixture of cars, coaches and tankers before crashing into the Staffords' Volvo, which was the 13th vehicle he encountered driving the wrong way.Pc Goddard said the Ford Mondeo had passed a mixture of cars, coaches and tankers before crashing into the Staffords' Volvo, which was the 13th vehicle he encountered driving the wrong way.
Police pursuing the Ford Mondeo prior to the crash stopped when it turned on to the M4 in the wrong direction.Police pursuing the Ford Mondeo prior to the crash stopped when it turned on to the M4 in the wrong direction.
Tests carried out on the speed of the Mondeo, from the moment it turned up the exit slip road of the motorway to the point of impact 76 seconds later, showed it had been travelling at an average speed of 86mph.Tests carried out on the speed of the Mondeo, from the moment it turned up the exit slip road of the motorway to the point of impact 76 seconds later, showed it had been travelling at an average speed of 86mph.
Pc Goddard said the Mondeo managed to reach speeds of up to 113mph during that time.Pc Goddard said the Mondeo managed to reach speeds of up to 113mph during that time.
"Neither the Mondeo or the Volvo braked prior to impact," said Pc Goddard."Neither the Mondeo or the Volvo braked prior to impact," said Pc Goddard.
"From the psychology of driving, you have to appreciate what is wrong before you can react to it.""From the psychology of driving, you have to appreciate what is wrong before you can react to it."
Gwent Coroner David Bowen said a car travelling in the opposite direction was the last thing Mr Stafford expected to see, adding: "He had no chance to do anything?"Gwent Coroner David Bowen said a car travelling in the opposite direction was the last thing Mr Stafford expected to see, adding: "He had no chance to do anything?"
Pc Goddard replied: "Absolutely."Pc Goddard replied: "Absolutely."
Christopher Beresford, who was driving, had taken cocaine before the crash.Christopher Beresford, who was driving, had taken cocaine before the crash.
CCTV footage of the moment of impact was shown to the jury and the families of the five people killed in the crash were given the opportunity to leave the court before it was played.CCTV footage of the moment of impact was shown to the jury and the families of the five people killed in the crash were given the opportunity to leave the court before it was played.
The video showed the Mondeo, with lights flashing, driving westbound on the eastbound carriageway travelling in lane three until it hit the Stafford's Volvo which had been about to overtake two cars in the middle lane.The video showed the Mondeo, with lights flashing, driving westbound on the eastbound carriageway travelling in lane three until it hit the Stafford's Volvo which had been about to overtake two cars in the middle lane.
The inquest has previously heard from the only survivor of the crash, James Bunnett, who was a passenger in the Mondeo.The inquest has previously heard from the only survivor of the crash, James Bunnett, who was a passenger in the Mondeo.
He described Mr Beresford as "a mad and insane driver and didn't care".He described Mr Beresford as "a mad and insane driver and didn't care".
In a statement read out, he added: "I know Rizza's a disqualified driver and there's no way he would stop for police. I know he's driven up motorways the wrong way before. Other people told me so after the accident."In a statement read out, he added: "I know Rizza's a disqualified driver and there's no way he would stop for police. I know he's driven up motorways the wrong way before. Other people told me so after the accident."
Post-mortem examinations carried out on all those killed in the crash revealed they died of multiple injuries.Post-mortem examinations carried out on all those killed in the crash revealed they died of multiple injuries.
Blood tests showed that Mr Beresford and Mr Case had taken cocaine in the hours before the crash but it would no longer have been affecting them when the collision happened.Blood tests showed that Mr Beresford and Mr Case had taken cocaine in the hours before the crash but it would no longer have been affecting them when the collision happened.
Nobody involved in the crash had been drinking alcohol.Nobody involved in the crash had been drinking alcohol.