A LORRY driver who formerly ran a business in Redditch has appeared in court charged with causing eight deaths in the M1 horror crash at the weekend.

Ryszard Masierak is accused of eight counts of causing death by dangerous driving, four counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving, and eight counts of causing death by careless driving while over the prescribed alcohol limit.

His flatmate spoke to the Advertiser's sister paper, the Worcester News, and told of his shock.

He revealed that Masierak had recently been divorced and that his transport business had closed down last year.

The charges relate to a crash on the southbound carriageway on the M1 at around 3.15am on Saturday between junctions 15 and 14 near Newport Pagnell in Buckinghamshire. Eight people died when the minibus they were travelling in crashed with two lorries. Four other people - including a child - were seriously hurt, and three were left fighting for their lives.

Masierak appeared at High Wycombe Magistrates’ Court yesterday where he was accused of having 55mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath. The legal driving limit is 35mg.

He made no application for bail and did not indicate how he would plead.

He was remanded in custody to appear at Aylesbury Crown Court on September 26. 

The 31-year-old, who lives in Barnards Close, Evesham, was driving a lorry from the town’s AIM Logistics Ltd transport company.

His flatmate, who wished to remain anonymous, said Masierak came from Poland had previously owned business Ryszard Transport LTD in Redditch, before it closed in 2016.

He said Masierak had served in the military for seven years, and had been ‘living in a car’ for two months since splitting from his wife a few months ago.

“I wanted to help him, he was practically homeless. I can’t believe what has happened.”

Police had called at his house on Saturday night to look at Maseriak’s passport and returned on Sunday to ask his flatmate about Maseriak.

Other residents confirmed that they were asked by police if they knew anything about him.

Ismail Elmagdoub, director of AIM Logistics said: “Our thoughts and deepest sympathy remain with the families who have lost loved ones and also those who have been injured at this very sad time.

“We are continuing to assist the police with their investigation so it would not be appropriate for us to comment further at this stage except to say that road safety and compliance is of the utmost importance to AIM Logistics.”

The driver of the other lorry involved, belonging to Fed Ex, was named as David Wagstaff, 53, of Derwent Street, Stoke-on-Trent. He is charged with eight counts of causing death by dangerous driving and four counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

He was bailed to appear at Milton Keynes Magistrates’ Court on September 11.

The vehicles involved in the crash were travelling in the same direction.

Chief inspector Henry Parsons from the joint operations unit for roads policing, said: “Our thoughts are very much with the families of those involved.”

Witnesses can call the 24-hour Thames Valley Police enquiry centre on 101, quoting URN 214 of August 26.