Man charged following M1 crash that left 8 people dead to appear at High Wycombe Magistrates'

Ryszard Masierak, 31, of Barnards Close, Evesham, Worcestershire, was charged with eight counts of causing death by dangerous driving, four counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving and eight counts of causing death by careless driving while over the prescribed limit.

He has been remanded in custody and is set to appear at High Wycombe Magistrates’ Court tomorrow (August 28). 

David Wagstaff, 53, of Derwent Street, Stoke-on-Trent, was also charged with eight counts of causing death by dangerous driving and four counts causing serious injury by dangerous driving and he will appear at Milton Keynes Magistrates’ Court on September 11.

The charges follow a horrific crash on the M1 involving a minibus and two lorries at around 3.15am on Saturday, which left six men and two women dead.

Four people who were injured and taken to hospital - including a five-year-old girl - remain in serious conditions.

Chief Inspector Henry Parsons, from the Joint Operations Unit for Roads Policing, said: “Officers are working to inform the next of kin of the people who died and specially-trained family liaison officers will be offering them their support. Some of those involved were visiting the UK from India and we are working to keep families abroad informed.

“This collision was deeply distressing for the members of the public who witnessed it, along with the emergency service workers who attended and displayed high levels of professionalism. Thames Valley Police has highly trained collision investigators who, over the coming weeks and months, will work to determine what caused this tragedy.

“I would like to reiterate it is vitally important that anyone who saw what happened, who has not already spoken to officers, comes forward with information.”

Anyone with any information should contact the 24-hour Thames Valley Police enquiry centre on 101 quoting URN 203 26/8.