2 Keralites among 8 killed in UK's deadliest motorway crash in 24 years
- Kottayam natives Cyriac Joseph aka Benny, who drove the van, and Rishi R, an engineer with Wipro, were the victims
- Benny hailed from Pala and moved to Nottingham five years ago with his wife Ancy and two children
- Rishi was from Chingavanam and was visiting the UK along with colleagues at Wirpo
FollowTwo Keralites were among eight persons killed in a road accident in southern England on Saturday after their minibus got crushed between two trucks.
Kottayam natives Cyriac Joseph aka Benny, who drove the van, and Rishi R, an engineer with Wipro, were the victims. Benny hailed from Pala and moved to Nottingham five years ago with his wife Ancy and two children. The 52-year-old had worked there for a few years before starting his own minicab business.
Rishi was from Chingavanam and was visiting the UK along with colleagues. The other six deceased hailed from Tamil Nadu and were Wipro employees and their families.
Meanwhile, a five-year-old girl and two others, who were in Benny's minibus, are being treated in a hospital with life-threatening injuries, while another woman has serious injuries.
Benny and family
Both truck drivers have been arrested, one of them on suspicion of driving while over the alcohol limit. Both men are being questioned on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and are in police custody.
The crash occurred on the southbound M1 highway at Newport Pagnell in Buckinghamshire and is considered the deadliest motorway pile-up for 24 years in England.
Pictures from the crash site show extensive damage to the vehicles involved, including a FedEx vehicle and one belonging to AIM Logistics. South Central Ambulance Service said those injured in the collision were taken to hospitals in Milton Keynes, Coventry and Birmingham.
"We are extending all possible assistance to those affected by this tragedy," said the Indian High Commission in London.Â
