Tributes For Family Of Six Killed On Motorway

Tributes have been paid to a family of six who were killed in a five-car pile up on the M6 yesterday.

David and Michelle Statham had been returning to their home in Llandudno, north Wales, with their four children after visiting relatives in the West Midlands.

Mr Statham, 38, his 33-year-old wife and four children Reece, 13, Jay, nine, 20-month old Mason and 10-week-old baby Elouise all died after their car bust into flames following a collision with three lorries and another car on a motorway in Cheshire.

A 46-year-old Portuguese lorry driver, who works for a Spanish firm, has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.

Police investigating the tragic events described the car's wreckage as resembling a "war zone", adding the Statham's car could only be identified by its chassis number.

Inspector Brian Rogers also said: "I feel so sorry for the officers from the emergency services who had to deal with it."

The Mayor of Llandudno, Councillor Bill Evans, said the town would hold an official remembrance service for the Stathams, if the relatives wished to do so.

He said: "It is hard to speak about what has happened. I would extend my deepest sympathy and condolences from the people of Llandudno to the family."

Vince Collina, 49, a builder who lives doors away from the family, told reporters: "They were a wonderful, model family, just six beautiful people.

"The kids were so polite and the parents hard working, they were really neighbourly. They were always pleasant and chatty and really contributed to a sense of public spirit on the street.

"Everybody is really shocked and traumatised. They had lived there for about four years."

Meanwhile, just over 90 minutes before the crash, a former rugby league player, David Myers, 37, died when the van he was travelling hit a bridge parapet.

The former Widnes and Great Britain Rugby League player crashed between junctions 17 and 18 on the same stretch of motorway.

(JM)