Doctor among stag party M25 crash victims

LONDON, May 8 (Reuters) A young doctor was among six men who died in one of the worst accidents to have ever taken place on the London orbital M25, Surrey Police said today.

Christopher Janaway, 28, of Brighton, was one of six friends returning from a stag celebration early on Monday when the breakdown recovery vehicle they were travelling in was involved in a collision with the back of a heavy goods lorry.

Their van had earlier broken down on the M1 in Warwickshire.

Five of the friends died, as well as the recovery vehicle driver, a 46-year-old man from Rugby.

The sixth member of the group is in stable condition in hospital after suffering a broken leg and facial injuries.

No further details are available on their identities.

Investigators said they will need several days to ascertain the cause of the Bank Holiday crash which happened on the anti-clockwise section of the motorway, near junction 10, between Leatherhead and Reigate in Surrey.

All the five victims from among the stag party were aged between 25 and 30.

The 13-strong party was returning from Leicestershire to the Brighton area when their minibus broke down.

One of the occupants called the AA and Rugby-based Dunchurch Motors despatched a recovery vehicle.

Seven of the passengers were picked up and returned safely to Brighton. The groom is believed to be among them.

The minibus was put onto the back of the recovery vehicle and the remaining six passengers were travelling in the cab alongside the driver when the accident happened.

Chief Superintendent Rob Price said: ''This is one of the worst collisions Surrey Police has dealt with on the M25.

''At this stage it is too early to confirm the exact cause of the collision.

''A thorough investigation is being undertaken ... and it will be a number of days before we will be in a position to release further details.'' The driver of the HGV was not injured and has been interviewed by Surrey Police as a witness.

REUTERS SK RK2105