Ex-soldier victim of wrong-way M40 crash
ADRIVER who died when a car towing a caravan travelled the wrong way up a motorway and crashed into his vehicle has been named.
Stuart Richards, 32, who grew up in Pembrokeshire, died when a Subaru Forester towing the caravan collided with his Ford Mondeo on the M40.
He was one of three people killed in the crash on Monday.
Videos filmed before the crash and posted on social media show motorists travelling in the outside lane of the motorway being forced to swerve to avoid a collision with the Subaru.
Mr Richards is the first victim to be named.
He was a former officer in the British Army who was educated at the Sir Thomas Picton secondary school, in Haverfordwest.
He had enjoyed a glittering career as a soldier in the British Army and served in war zones in Afghanistan, Iraq and Jordan.
Prior to his outstanding service, Mr Richards worked in a wide variety of roles across the world, including as a waiter in Norway, site labourer in Spain and on the production line for a chemicals company in Northern Ireland.
A spokesman for Thames Valley Police said: “Shortly before 4pm on Monday, the force received reports that a Subaru Forester towing a caravan was travelling in the wrong direction on the northbound carriageway of the M40.
“A few minutes later, the vehicle was subsequently in collision with two other cars, a Ford Mondeo and a Ford Focus, near junction 6.
“The driver and a passenger of the Subaru, both aged in their eighties, died.
“They are yet to be formally identified at this time.
“The driver of the Ford Mondeo also died.
“He has now been formally identified as Stuart Richards, aged 32 years, from Stockport, Cheshire.
“Thames Valley Police has made a mandatory referral to the IOPC in relation to the fatal collision, due to previous police contact.
“On October 10 this year in High Wycombe, a report of a damageonly road traffic collision involving the Subaru Forester was made to the force.
“The IOPC will now make a decision as to whether they will carry out an investigation.”