West Country M5 crash

Motorists caught up in a car crash on the M5 in which 7 people died have told an inquest how they became disorientated driving through a "white curtain" of fog.

The crash in November 2011 involved 34 vehicles. It happened on the night a fireworks display was being held at the nearby Taunton Rugby Club.

The event organiser, Geoffrey Counsell, was cleared of breaching health and safety regulations last year. Today, a coroner heard conflicting reports about the cause of the low visibility.

Richard Lawrence reports.

Inquests into the deaths of seven people who were killed in a crash on the M5 in Somerset will take place in the spring. Coroners will open inquests into the deaths of those that died on the 31st of March.

It comes after the organiser of a nearby Firework display was cleared of breaking health and safety laws. Geoffrey Counsel was cleared of breaking health and safety laws earlier this month.

A date’s been set for an inquest into the deaths of seven people who died in a crash on the M5 near Taunton two years ago.

34 vehicles were involved in the pile-up and fire in November 2011, making it one of the worst motorway accidents in the country.

Geoffrey Counsell, who staged a fireworks display at nearby Taunton Rugby Club ground, was cleared last week of breaching health and safety laws amid claims drivers could not see because of smoke drifting across the road.

West Somerset Coroner, Michael Rose says he will hold a full inquest at Taunton on March 31st.

An inquest into the deaths of seven people killed in a massive motorway crash in Somerset will take place next year.

West Somerset coroner Michael Rose will resume the hearing in March.

Taunton Deane Borough Council have spent 46 thousand pounds investigating the M5 crash.7 people died in the pile up in November 2011. The case against fireworks organiser Geoffrey Counsell who organised a display near to scene of the crash was dismissed by a judge yesterday.

The daughter of a couple who were killed in the M5 crash said she was "devastated" with the result - and still blamed Geoffrey Counsell, the fireworks organiser, for the smash.

Elaine Adams, whose parents Anthony and Pamela Adams, from Newport, south Wales, died in the accident, said: "I think I speak on behalf of all the families in the crash - we are devastated."

Fireworks organiser Geoffrey Counsell has criticised the authorities for prosecuting him "simply for the sake of it".In a five-minute statement read outside Bristol Crown Court, he paid tribute to the "quiet dignity" of the victims' families.

His statement was read by his solicitor Gavin Reese.