Friends killed in motorway crash

The accident closed sections of the M1 for most of the day

Two life-long friends from Staffordshire were among five people killed in Wednesday's horrific crash on the M1 in Leicestershire.

Paul Evans and Craig Mears, who went to school together, were both married fathers in their mid-30s and lived in Great Wyrley, near Cannock.

The decorators had worked together at IH Maintenance Repair for more than 10 years.

They were on their way to finish work at a McDonald's outlet at Weston Favell, near Northampton, when they were caught up in the accident.

Wednesday's accident, which involved 11 vehicles, happened in rush-hour traffic near junction 20 of the motorway.

'Tragic loss'

It is thought two armoured vehicles returning from Iraq were catapulted off their transporter when it jack-knifed, striking the van in which Mr Evans and Mr Mears, who was known as Joe, were in as well as the other vehicles.

We are a very close-knit firm, like a band of brothers, and everyone is absolutely devastated

Paul Heritage, IH Maintenance Repair Ltd

A third man killed in the accident was Daniel Bradley, a removals worker from Melton Mowbray.

Mr Bradley, 21, had worked with the Leicestershire removals firm Lapworths for more than a year.

Alan Prestwell, who was driving the lorry, was airlifted to hospital in Birmingham and underwent surgery on his legs. He is in a stable condition.

Another colleague Gary King was treated for facial injuries.

The two other motorists killed in the crash were Wayne Buckley, 44, of Ossett, West Yorkshire, and Christopher Green, 29, of Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, who was driving a white Citroen Dispatch van.

Four of the people killed were pronounced dead at the scene, while two were airlifted to hospitals in Birmingham, where one later died.

Six others were taken to Leicester Royal Infirmary.

Paul Heritage, contracts manager of IH Maintenance Repair Ltd, said the firm, which employs 25 people, had closed for the rest of the week after staff were informed of Mr Evans and Mr Mears' deaths.

"It is just a tragic loss," he said.

'Likeable blokes'

"We are a very close-knit firm, like a band of brothers, and everyone is absolutely devastated."

Mr Evans is believed to have been captain of Willenhall Rugby Club while Mr Mears was an avid Wolverhampton Wanderers fan.

Mr Heritage added: "They were two very likeable blokes who went on all jobs together.

"We are just stunned and can't really take it in."

Leicestershire Police said they have now spoken to relatives of all those killed or injured in the collision.