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| Stag party group die in M25 crash | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Five of the six people who died in one of the worst crashes on the M25 in 20 years had been returning from a stag event in Leicestershire, police say. | |
| The group from Brighton were in a rescue truck which was carrying their broken-down minibus when it collided with a lorry between junction 8 and 9. | The group from Brighton were in a rescue truck which was carrying their broken-down minibus when it collided with a lorry between junction 8 and 9. |
| The recovery vehicle driver, who was 46 and from Rugby, died at the scene but the HGV driver was uninjured. | The recovery vehicle driver, who was 46 and from Rugby, died at the scene but the HGV driver was uninjured. |
| A sixth occupant of the minibus was also hurt but is stable in hospital. | A sixth occupant of the minibus was also hurt but is stable in hospital. |
| Surrey Police said one of the occupants called the AA after the minibus broke down at Junction 18 on the M1. | Surrey Police said one of the occupants called the AA after the minibus broke down at Junction 18 on the M1. |
| Truck 'set up safely' | Truck 'set up safely' |
| Seven people were picked up and returned safely to Brighton by one recovery vehicle from Dunchurch Motors Ltd. | Seven people were picked up and returned safely to Brighton by one recovery vehicle from Dunchurch Motors Ltd. |
| The minibus was put on a second recovery vehicle and six members of the stag party group travelled in the cab with the driver. | The minibus was put on a second recovery vehicle and six members of the stag party group travelled in the cab with the driver. |
| The five Brighton men who died were aged between 25 and 30, police said. | The five Brighton men who died were aged between 25 and 30, police said. |
| The groom was not involved in the crash. | The groom was not involved in the crash. |
| The one surviving person was taken to East Surrey Hospital in Redhill with a broken leg and face injuries - it took emergency services an hour to free him from the wreckage. | |
| Surrey Police has confirmed that the recovery vehicle was set up safely to seat seven people - one driver and six passengers - with proper seat belts. | Surrey Police has confirmed that the recovery vehicle was set up safely to seat seven people - one driver and six passengers - with proper seat belts. |
| "This cab was configured to seat two passengers in front with a driver and four passengers behind," a spokeswoman said. | "This cab was configured to seat two passengers in front with a driver and four passengers behind," a spokeswoman said. |
| The crash happened at about 0215 BST near Reigate and the motorway was closed for several hours but reopened just after 1100 BST. | The crash happened at about 0215 BST near Reigate and the motorway was closed for several hours but reopened just after 1100 BST. |
| The cab of the recovery vehicle was completely destroyed in the accident, which left wreckage strewn across both carriageways. | The cab of the recovery vehicle was completely destroyed in the accident, which left wreckage strewn across both carriageways. |
| The lorry driver was unhurt and is being treated as a witness by police. | The lorry driver was unhurt and is being treated as a witness by police. |
| Ch Supt Rob Price said: "Our thoughts are with the families and friends of the six people who died in this tragic crash. | Ch Supt Rob Price said: "Our thoughts are with the families and friends of the six people who died in this tragic crash. |
| "This is one of the worst collisions Surrey Police have dealt with on the M25." | "This is one of the worst collisions Surrey Police have dealt with on the M25." |
| Police have said it is too early to confirm the cause of the crash which is under investigation. | Police have said it is too early to confirm the cause of the crash which is under investigation. |
| Dunchurch Motors Ltd, who are based in Rugby, issued a statement which said: "This is a terrible tragedy. We are trying to come to terms with this ourselves. | Dunchurch Motors Ltd, who are based in Rugby, issued a statement which said: "This is a terrible tragedy. We are trying to come to terms with this ourselves. |
| Our thoughts are with the family of our driver and the families of those affected by this tragic incident." | Our thoughts are with the family of our driver and the families of those affected by this tragic incident." |
| They said they could not comment further while the investigation was ongoing. | They said they could not comment further while the investigation was ongoing. |
| Police expect to identify the people who died on Tuesday. | Police expect to identify the people who died on Tuesday. |