14/11/2011 Inside Out London

Hello and welcome to Inside Out South West.

Tonight, we report into the ongoing investigation into the M5 crash. We

have remarkable new testimony from those involved in one of Britain's

worst ever motorway pile-ups. was like stepping on to a movie set.

It wasn't real. 10 days on, the questions are still being asked.

can't believe you can have a firework display so close to a

motorway. Also tonight, Jonathan Foyle

uncovers the strange story behind the monument that towers above St.

Ives. That is dramatic. This is As the police continue their

investigation into the M5 crash, we've been hearing remarkable

testimony from those involved. was getting up to speed and a head,

I noticed a white wall. I said, that is the thickest fog I have

ever seen. The lorries hit cars in front of us and we could here bang,

bang, bang from behind as well. It was hell. It was the worst noise

running through your head, just screams of people, not knowing what

to do first. The next thing was as if somebody had thrown a black

blanket over the windscreen. It went jet-black.

And Inside Out can reveal that no fog warnings were displayed on the

M5's electronic signs at the time of the accident, despite forecasts

and reports of poor visibility that night. BBC viewers had been warned

of fog and so had the Highways Agency. At 4 o'clock, its website

was sent a forecast of fog and mist at the Met Office. These conditions

were experienced by eyewitness, Rob Weaving. There were small patches

of foregone water on the ground, it was not raining heavily. Despite

this, no warnings were displayed on the M5. We asked the Highways

Agency, which controls the electronic boards, why? It said it

had received no reports of adverse weather on any of its roads. And it

said its control centre had been given advice by the Met Office that

"did not highlight fog as a potential hazard" at the time of

the crash. At around 8.15 that evening, a fireworks display at

Taunton Rugby Club ended. A police investigation is ongoing into

whether smoke from that played any part in the accident. Whatever the

cause, for Ciara and Roger Neno there was no warning of what was to

come as they joined the motorway at junction 25. We pulled on to the M

five and we were getting up to speed behind an Icelander truck in

the middle lane, when we rolled into a wall of a very sudden, very,

very thick, what appeared to be fog. It was like somebody had thrown a

hood over the windscreen of a car. You could not see a thing. Almost

as soon as that had happened, I could see the truck, but it was

stationery. I was closing fast from about 80 metres, closing quite

quickly, and having to break very sharply. I literally stood on the

brakes. I was thinking, we are not going to stop. But we did. We

stopped about two, from my memory, about 10 feet to spare. The lorries

had cars in front of us and we could hear bang, bang, buying from

behind as well. It was rhythmical. It was just like a beach. -- beta.

I turned to cure and said, we are going to get hit. -- cure. Based on

post crash pictures, we've tried to indicate what happened in the

aftermath of the accident. The vehicles represented may not be

exactly where they ended up immediately after the crash. The

Nenos were in the very first phase of the collision, and Ciara was one

of the first to dial 999. I said, we need ambulance, fire brigade and

police. I said this is not just a small crash, there are many, many

crashes and I can see fire. Then came the second phase of the crash.

A lorry jack-knifed behind them, protecting the couple from impact.

After probably 90 seconds, they said, I'm not sitting here any

longer, I have got to see what I can do. That is when I stepped out

of the car. It was like stepping on to a movie set. You just don't

figure is real for a minute. Just mangled bits of metal everywhere

and I can hear the music from the rugby club, and I just keep

thinking, God, they have no idea what is going on appear. Roger saw

two men trapped in the car directly in front of him, he borrowed a tyre

lever from a truck driver. I ran back and told the guy in the seat

to turn away, and I smashed the window. It smashed first time. I

pulled him out. The chapel on the other side was very dazed. He was

in a worse way. We said, move over, we will get you out. We couldn't

open his door because he was at the barrier. He said, why, I'm OK? I

said look, you engine is gone and a car is smoking, it might go up in

flames, you need to get out. We pulled him out. Tom Hamill, his

girlfriend Catherine and Dad, had pulled up behind the jack-knifed

lorry. They too were remarkably lucky not to have been hit. I just

remember sat there and Thomas was like, we are going to get hit,

brace yourselves. We heard and saw to the left, cars just crashing in.

Someone shouted, please, take my baby, take my baby, my husband is

trapped in a car, take my baby. dialled 999, standing at the

central reservation, as more cars were crashing into the back of us.

I remember they call handler saying, how many cars? I kept saying,

there's more! In this third phase of the crash, Matt and Michelle

Craker, their son Fred and three dogs, ended up wedged on the hard

shoulder between a lorry and the crash barrier. We got out and the

van and straight away in front, I could see flames. Not coming from

us, not the car in front, but it seemed about 10 feet away, big

flames. There was fire. I remember before I actually descended the

bank, the lorry was well alight, looking to the right, the Roads

Service was on fire. There had obviously been a fuel spill. The

last image of looking at the van was from the bottom of the

embankments, looking up. The cab of the vans had flames in it so the

fire had spread through the lorry, into the van. That is really within

a matter of minutes a bus coming to a halt. A dash of us. The other

side of the blazing lorry, Roger Neno followed a young woman's cries

for help. Her car was pinned under the jack-knifed lorry. I thought

the car -- the fire would spread underneath and it would not take

long. I jumped over. The front door or was slightly ajar or at the top.

They were not move. I told her to move back and Swanley Aaron at the

window and on the 4th attempt it broke. -- I swung the Arran. I

pulled right. I was trying to keep her calm and not panic so as not to

panic her. I was thinking, it is raining, drizzle is all we need,

but there is this strong smell of fuel and the residual all over the

floor. As I was doing this I saw the lady... The Lou DiBella was

pained by her legs under the back wheel. -- the lady that was pained.

She was pinned under the lorry. She was screaming, help, get me out. I

was fearful that she would lie there and burn as well. With no

chance of releasing her, Roger ran for help, returning with an off-

duty doctor and one of the fire crews which were now arriving

Despite the fireball, the woman was saved. I could see Roger going

towards the car. There was a huge fireball behind. It just exploded

and I screamed at him, get out! I've got everything was could go up.

Despite a fireball, the woman was saved. Roger and Ciara spent hours

at the scene helping with the relief effort. The time between the

Nenos stopping, and the first emergency services arriving took

about the time it's taken you to watch this film. 51 people were

injured in the crash, seven died. The investigation may one day

provide some answers. But for the people involved, the sights and

sounds of that night will live with them for the rest of their lives.

am talking about us and there are people who have lost family members

and been permanently injured and their lives are changed for ever

and... You know, I don't even have a scratch. It just doesn't make any

sense. None at all. The police investigation continues. One line

of inquiry is whether smoke from a fireworks display which was being

held at Taunton Rugby Club may have been a contributing factor.

It was billed as a dazzling night of family fun. But within 48 hours,

this event was at the centre of a police criminal investigation.

believe that whilst there was fog and there were difficult conditions

that from witness evidence, there was significant smoke across the

carriageway which cost a bank, so much to a far bank, which was very

distracting it difficult to drive through. 10 days on, the question

remains unanswered. Did a fireworks display at Taunton Rugby Club cause

or contribute to Britain's worst motorway crash for 20 years? We

wanted to talk to experts from the fireworks industry and those caught

up in the tragedy. We found conflicting eyewitness accounts.

cannot believe you can have a fireworks display so close to a

motorway. It was foggy, so you would not be able to tell if there

was smoke. The fireworks display with some were over there and I was

over there. The accident happened just parallel, almost behind for

ever read the posters. The -- where the rugby post is. Bev Davis heard

the fireworks go off. It took her and her horses by surprise.

couldn't believe it. I ran down to the entrance of the rugby club to

ask them to stop so I could get my horses in. She went straight to

talk to the organisers. While she was there, she raised the question

of safety. A said I can't believe you can have a fireworks display so

close to the motorway. The fact bet it was so bright and blaring, I

just don't see how it could have been anything other than a

distraction. A distraction and worries about smoke. Issues which

have worried the public since the crash and ones the police are now

examining. Tom Smith also takes an active interest. He's a

pyrotechnics consultant. This is the rugby club, for the fireworks

were fired from. This is the M5 and this is where the accident fight --

side was. He estimates the club is 200 metres from the character way.

These are low-level fireworks, and then hire of, Shiels bursting over

the top. -- higher up. A Aurigny producing what looks like a lot of

smoke? The amount of smoke I would expect from a display that size. We

can see the fireworks clearly. There is obviously some smoke but

it is not excessive. It will drift downwind but we do not know where

the wind was. The forecast was for a south-westerly wind. If it is

south-westerly the smoke would travel in this direction. That is

parallel to the motorway ballad than towards it. Regardless of

direction, what would happen to the smoke? It is finite. You cannot

have a very thick and very deep. If it is over an extensive portion of

the motorway Ben by necessity it must have been delayed and then. --

dilate and Fein. We decided to take a much closer look at the smoke

generated by fireworks. Alan Christie's helping us. He detonates

16 tons of fireworks every year and is the man who puts the bang into

the Bristol Balloon Fiesta. I have brought along a selection of the

most ever got things you would find. There is a comical fountain, a 25

mm calibre, a Roman candle. Close up, this appeared to be very fine,

almost like an aerosol spray. The Met Office has told us smoke can

cause mist or fog to form in damp air. It can also thicken them up.

But that's not what Alan's found from his experience with fireworks.

Do you pick it would generate for almost? The not a chance. That is

natural. The weather conditions, low pressure can help hold the

smoke on the floor, but if the wind is not blowing, you see it

dissipate over four or five minutes. We are going to try and have a look

at one large firework going off, producing the smoke and heading

across the road, to see how thick the smoke can be. As you can see,

we have got the firework going and the smoke is being blown across the

road. It is thick smoke and certainly it does not help having

headlamps on. It is hard to see ahead. This experiment on a

farmer's track is far from scientific and in no way does it

replicate the display on 4th November. Of course, close up,

firework smoke reduces visibility. But, is that what happened on the

night? Those at the display on 4th November offer differing opinions

about smoke and wind direction. There was no smoke. Literally, I

walked away after the fireworks and there was no smoke. It was just fog,

thick fog. The display was a very big, supposedly the biggest in

Somerset and there was a lot of smoke created. The display ran for

15 minutes and afterwards of the smoke stayed around for a long time.

You cannot see some of the pitch. The wind was blowing towards me.

From where I was did, by the grandstand, that is away from the

motorway. It was not drifting. It was holding fast, from what I

understand, so I do not think it too quickly at all. Two opposing

accounts. The police no doubt have many more points of view. Alan

doubts smoke was an issue, but thinks the display itself had the

potential to distract drivers. Would you have done it 200 metres

from the M5? There is perhaps too close. 600 metres away and not have

said was a problem but within 100 metres, Sibly not. And within 200?

A bit too close. The chances are you would not have run a show?

It's a bold admission from Alan. He would not have run a fireworks

display at Taunton Rugby Club. Reports suggest the fireworks had

finished 10 minutes before the crash. The police will have the

final word. They have 30 staff following up 200 lines of inquiry.

A camera near junction 25 may hold vital clues. Smoke and fireworks

remain a significant part of the investigation. The rugby club says

it's working closely with Avon and Somerset Police. I was going to an

event in told the... We joined the Wells MP Tessa Munt back at the

scene of the crash. She too is an eyewitness. She was driving south

on the M5 as the fireball raged. The heat was intense. It was

burning hot. We were all of those lanes away. She wasn't aware of

smoke or fireworks and on reflection, feels sympathy for the

event organisers. If I was part of the rugby club I would feel awful.

It must be so stressful for the people involved in organising this.

So often they are for charity and they are events to raise money for

good causes. I guess, mammals just feel terrible. -- that must adjust.

It will take many weeks for the police to reach their conclusions

but already, the issue of firework safety is under scrutiny once again.

If the investigations show smoke from the despair with energy it is

something we will now get very seriously and we would certainly

incorporate information about that in training corporation -- causes.

We do not want to react quickly to something we do not know about yet.

All of these investigations will no doubt add to the picture.

Some memorials need no explanation - like Sir Francis Drake's statue

on Plymouth Hoe. But Historian Jonathan Foyle has been on the

trail of a lesser known South West curious monuments of the lot

Have you bought an antique and wondered what secrets it might

hold? I love rummaging. On a recent trip, I came across a beautiful old

trunk. It's a fine object in itself, but I probably wouldn't have taken

it home if it hadn't been for the brass plate on the front that said:

John Knill Esq. I didn't have a clue who John Knill was, so I did

what any architectural historian would do in similar circumstances -

I Googled him. He must have been some body! Instructions about the

ceremony around his final resting place... 25th July, a few days'

time. It turns out John Knill was an 18th century lawyer who made his

name in Cornwall. And that's where I'm headed to find out more about

the original owner of my trunk. That his dramatic! Knill's monument

sits on a hilltop overlooking St Ives. Every five years, 10 young

girls lead a procession of townsfolk up here and dance around

the steeple, as its known. It is such a local thing, with local

girls taking part. Use the John Knill wanting to remain in the

memory of people of St Ives longer than is usual. He has done very

well, 200 years. We are still dancing around. Harding has been

Master of Ceremonies at the event for nearly half a century. I'm

desperate to learn more about John Knill and why he deserved a

monument, but I'm not about to find out from him. You need to go to the

archive and do some investigation, frankly. There's an awful lot on

him and it does mean digging. If you really want, have a look,

because they have a lot of information. This is turning into a

bit of a mystery tour! John Knill, biographical sketch. Just what I'm

looking for. 60 years after Knill's death, his nephew, John Jope Rogers,

wrote an account of his life and achievements. It's a mine of

information. John Knill was born in East Cornwall in 1733. He trained

as a lawyer in Penzance and at the age of just 29, became Collector of

Customs and then mayor in St Ives. I'm now off to meet someone who can

tell me about the St Ives that Knill knew and his impact upon the

town. It was very poor fishing village. It had a very limited

harbour. At that time it was only a fraction of the size we have now.

It was through him that we have the street we are standing on now. When

the time he was here, there was a boom in mining and there was always

something to export. There was metal or and produce of the town,

which was also a pilchard station. Brian's account helps us picture St

Ives at the dawn of the industrial revolution. Boats would arrive from

South Wales laden with coal to power with a steam engines driving

their minds are deeper and deeper Underground. -- driving the

coalmines. Pilcher's were being exported to Italy. So this was John

Knill's world for the best part of 20 years. It certainly sounds like

he was a mover and shaker, but how many officials get a 50 foot

monument for two decades of public service? This is where the story

gets interesting. His nephew's account tells us that Knill left St

Ives to continue his legal career in London in 1782. But before he

went, he made plans for his own demise. Now, Knill wasn't keen on

churchyard burials... Apparently he did not like the idea of bodies

being piled up on top of each other, much as what was happening in the

graveyard of St Ives Church, even in his dead. The ground is two

metres above the surrounding lanes. So he chose his own final resting

place up on top of Worvas Hill. His body was to be housed in a tomb at

the foot of a steeple, which he commissioned himself. So there's a

monument to John Knill because he paid for it. Some vanity project!

Knill's vanity didn't end there. He even designed his own memorial

ceremony, to be repeated every five years and paid for out of his will.

He stipulated that 10 young girls should be selected and paid �5 each

- a lot of money back then - and a surefire way to get their parents

involved. After kicking off at the Guildhall, the procession makes its

way up through the streets of the town, on its way to the monument.

Knill said the girls should be the daughters of fishermen, tinners or

seamen. That went by the board a while ago. All the more amazing

when you realise that in the end, Knill wasn't actually buried here.

The tomb is empty. From St Ives to St Paul's. To find out about

Knill's later life and his body's final resting place, I've come back

to London. Knill was very much a man about town, living at the heart

of the city. According to his nephew, Knill spent much of his

time hanging out with writers in Paternoster Row. Sadly it was

destroyed in the Blitz but it was frequented by the likes of Boswell

and Dr Johnson. It must have been extraordinary. I discovered a

poignant ending to John Knill's story. He died in 1811 and was

buried at the church of St Andrew, in Holborn. But the redevelopment

of that site meant his final resting place lay elsewhere,

beneath another monument, but this one doesn't bear his name. Over the

years the bodies were brought here, to London Metropolitan Cemetery. It

strikes me as an irony that Knill was not buried in the monument he

built. He is under this monument in a place he never knew, in a mass

grave. But it's in Cornwall he'll be remembered. His body might not