Fatal M1 crash prompts investigation into smart motorways

A STUDENT was killed and two others left in comas after a vehicle broke down on a smart motorway near Luton.

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Zahid Ahmed, 19, died after the people carrier he was in came to a stop due to a mechanical failure and was hit by a lorry. The hard shoulder was open to traffic on this section of the motorway and the vehicle did not reach an emergency refuge area before the collision. Four other Middlesex University students in the vehicle were taken to hospital.

A relative of one student who suffered brain injuries said an investigation needs to establish whether removing the hard shoulder and providing refuge areas roughly every mile puts stranded motorists at risk.

In October, the Government ordered a review of smart motorway safety.

A relative of the student with brain injuries said: “Smart motorways need investigating further.”

Claire Mercer, whose husband Jason died when he became stranded on the M1, set up the Smart Motorways Kill campaign.

Jason Mercer, 44, died on 7 June on the M1 near Sheffield, where the hard shoulder is now an active lane.

Motorways in England are loosing their hard shoulders

Motorways in England are loosing their hard shoulders (Image: GETTY)

She said: “The death toll keeps rising.

“The only hope is this government does something effective.”

They were returning from a universities pool competition in Birmingham on the M1.

A report to the Bedfordshire and Luton Coroner’s Service said Mr Ahmed, whose family fled war in Afghanistan, died from “multiple traumatic injuries” after the vehicle “suffered mechanical failure on the M1 smart motorway”. 

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Motorways in England are loosing their hard shoulders

Motorways in England are loosing their hard shoulders (Image: GETTY)

It adds: “The vehicle was stationary with hazard light illuminated. A heavy goods vehicle then hit the rear, causing significant damage.”

The teenager was identified by his student card and pronounced dead at the roadside on 1 December. 

It is believed that a student in his 20s who fell into a coma has since regained consciousness.

A lorry driver has been charged with causing death by dangerous driving, and four counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

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Motorways in England are loosing their hard shoulders

Motorways in England are loosing their hard shoulders (Image: GETTY)

The Sunday Telegraph has revealed how motorists and passengers have been killed after becoming stranded in live lanes.

These live lanes were formerly hard shoulders.

Highways England staff watching CCTV cameras covering the network have been known to struggle to detect stationary cars, and divert traffic into other lanes quickly enough.

Jill Greenfield, of Fieldfisher solicitors, which is representing three of the severely injured, said: “This is the most terrible tragedy.

“One young man has died, and three men in their 20s have had their lives devastated by a collision involving their vehicle and a lorry on a smart motorway.”

A Highways England spokeswoman said the incident was “tragic”. 

She said its sympathies were with those affected, and it is supporting the police investigation so it would be “inappropriate to comment”.

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