1997 M42 motorway crash
Encyclopedia
The 1997 M42 motorway crash is a multiple vehicle collision which occurred on 10 March 1997 on the M42 motorway
at Bromsgrove
, Worcestershire
in the United Kingdom as a result of fog. The accident happened after lorry driver David Fairclough of Wednesfield, West Midlands, entered the motorway from a slip road at 56mph and crashed his lorry into the back of a tanker, which then struck a Peugeot 205
. Ultimately 160 vehicles were involved in the incident, which led to three deaths and 60 injuries. Fairclough was later sentenced to three months imprisonment for dangerous driving and his licence
was revoked. However, in 2001 he brought legal action to have the licence reinstated, and was successful in this effort.
M42 motorway
The M42 motorway is a major road in England. The motorway runs north east from Bromsgrove in Worcestershire to just south west of Ashby-de-la-Zouch in Leicestershire, passing Redditch, Solihull, the National Exhibition Centre and Tamworth on the way. The section between the M40 and M6 road forms...
at Bromsgrove
Bromsgrove
Bromsgrove is a town in Worcestershire, England. The town is about north east of Worcester and south west of Birmingham city centre. It had a population of 29,237 in 2001 with a small ethnic minority and is in Bromsgrove District.- History :Bromsgrove is first documented in the early 9th century...
, Worcestershire
Worcestershire
Worcestershire is a non-metropolitan county, established in antiquity, located in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes it is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three counties that comprise the "Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire" NUTS 2 region...
in the United Kingdom as a result of fog. The accident happened after lorry driver David Fairclough of Wednesfield, West Midlands, entered the motorway from a slip road at 56mph and crashed his lorry into the back of a tanker, which then struck a Peugeot 205
Peugeot 205
The Peugeot 205 is a supermini produced by the French car manufacturer Peugeot between 1983 and 1998. It was declared 'Car of the Decade' by CAR magazine in 1990. The 205 won 1984 What Car? car of the year.-History:...
. Ultimately 160 vehicles were involved in the incident, which led to three deaths and 60 injuries. Fairclough was later sentenced to three months imprisonment for dangerous driving and his licence
Driving licence in the United Kingdom
In the United Kingdom, the driving licence is the official document which authorises its holder to operate various types of motor vehicle on public roads. In England, Scotland and Wales they are administered by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency and in Northern Ireland by the Driver & Vehicle...
was revoked. However, in 2001 he brought legal action to have the licence reinstated, and was successful in this effort.