Nine people killed in Easter getaway carnage on UK roads in smashes on the M62, M5 and M25

Keiron Edgar was killed in a moped crash in County Durham
ClevelandPolice
Fiona Simpson2 April 2018

At least nine people have died on roads across the UK amid Easter travel chaos.

Five people were killed on Easter Monday alone including a pensioner hit by a car on a Dorset seafront as millions took to the roads for an Easter getaway.

A 70-year-old died after being hit by a beige Vauxhall Zafira while walking along a promenade in Swanage around 8.40am.

A Dorset Police spokesman said: "Very sadly, the pedestrian, a 70-year-old man from Swanage, was pronounced dead at the scene.

"His next of kin has been informed and is being treated by specially trained officers. The coroner has been notified."

Emergency services were also called to a crash on the M20
Highways England

The spokesman said that the driver of the car, a local woman aged in her 60s, suffered minor injuries and was taken to hospital as a precaution.

Police Sergeant Joe Pardey, of the traffic unit, said: "I am appealing to anyone who witnessed the collision, or has any dashcam footage that can assist my investigation, to please come forward.

"I would also like to hear from anyone who saw the manner of driving of the vehicle prior to the collision.

"Also, I would like to thank the public for their patience while the closure was in place to allow emergency services to deal with the collision."

A lorry overturned on the M25 but no one was seriously injured
RoadpoliceBCH/Twitter

Images showed the car stuck on the beach following the collision.

In West Yorkshire, two men aged 34 and 37 died after a car was driven the wrong way towards junction 26 of the M62.

Officers were called at around 2.34am to reports there was a vehicle driving eastbound on the westbound carriageway.

A 22-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and is being quizzed by police.

A spokesman said they were called again shortly after and told there had been a two-vehicle crash.

"Officers have responded and located the two vehicles. Two males in one of the vehicles, which is a white Skoda, were declared deceased at the scene," he said.

"A male, believed to be the driver of the second vehicle involved which is a black Vauxhall Insignia, was arrested for causing death by dangerous driving.

"He also failed a roadside breath test ... the major roadside collision team are continuing the investigation."

A 61-year-old man was killed in a crash with a lorry on the M5 near Birmingham just after 5am, West Midlands Police said.

He was rushed to hospital after a truck hit a motorway barrier but later died in hospital.

In Surrey, a driver died and four passengers were injured after a car slid off the M25 and down an embankment, police said.

The man, aged in his 20s, was crushed to death when his blue BMW left the carriageway near Clackett Lane Services in Oxted around 2.40am, police said.

Four people were pulled from the wreckage and rushed to hospital. Two of the passengers suffered serious injuries.

Police today named an 18-year-old killed when he lost control of a moped in County Durham on Easter Sunday.

Keiron Edgar suffered fatal injuries on High Grange Avenue at the Junction of Casson Way in Billingham at about 5.30am.

Officers appealed for anyone with dashcam or CCTV footage to come forward following the early morning smash.

Kavana Taylor, 21, died when his BMW 1 series collided with another car in Rochdale around 1.30am on Sunday.

A man, in his 20s, was also killed after being hit by a car in Halstead, Essex, in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Reports suggested he had been “lying” in the middle of the road.

Father-of-three Karl Chester died on Good Friday when his motorcycle collided with a Nissan Quashqai on the M62 near Rishworth Moor, West Midlands Police said.

The deaths came as heavy downpours blighted the Bank Holiday causing delays and disruption on Britain’s roads and motorways.

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