Widow in legal bid to scrap ‘smart’ motorways

THE GRIEVING widow of a Yorkshire man killed on the M1 has launched a High Court legal challenge calling for ‘smart’ motorways to be scrapped.

Claire Mercer’s husband Jason, 44, from Rotherham, South Yorkshire, and Alexandru Murgeanu, 22, from Mansfield, both died last June when they were hit by a lorry after pulling over following a collision on the northbound M1 between Junction 34 for Meadowhall and 35 for Thorpe Hesley.

The stretch of road in question is currently classed as an ‘all lanes running’ (ALR) motorway, meaning there is no hard shoulder in operation. Mr Mercer and Mr Murgeanu had pulled over as far as they could to exchange details.

However, after they left their vehicles a lorry collided with the pair. They were pronounced dead at the scene.

Their deaths mean that five people have died on that route in the past year.

Mrs Mercer now wants a stop to the hard shoulder being turned into a normal lane on the country’s motorways and has instructed Irwin Mitchell Solicitors to investigate bringing a legal case against Highways England calling for the use of smart motorways to be halted.

Mrs Mercer, 43, said: “Smart motorways and ALRs in particular are clearly very dangerous and something needs to be done.

“Jason was an amazing, multi-faceted man who stood out in a crowd. He believed in equality and he fought to defend his and other rights. He loved all types of music from classical to heavy metal.

“He worked hard, drank knowledge in like a sponge and defined his worth by his ability to look after me and others. My family have lost an absolute diamond, in the cruellest manner. The only thing that helps us while we try to come to terms with this loss is trying to stop the same happening to others.”

Mrs Mercer’s legal team is now preparing detailed evidence an aim to officially commence the legal process in the coming weeks.