Police probe stag party M25 death crash

LONDON, May 8 (Reuters) Investigators today said they will need several days to ascertain the cause of the M25 Bank Holiday crash that killed six people, one of the worst accidents in the 21-year history of the London orbital motorway.

Five men aged between 25 and 30 -- who were returning from a stag celebration -- died when a breakdown recovery van in which they were travelling collided with the back of a heavy goods vehicle at 0213 hrs in Surrey yesterday.

The van driver, a 46-year-old man from Rugby, also died.

A sixth member of the stag party was transferred to the East Surrey hospital with a broken leg and facial injuries. He is in a stable condition.

The 13-strong stag party from the Brighton area were returning from Leicestershire when their minibus broke down at junction 18 on the M1.

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 anti-clockwise section of the motorway was closed from junction 10, between Leatherhead and Reigate, following the accident.

The driver of the HGV was not injured and has been interviewed by Surrey Police as a witness.

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