‘Wind blowing away from M5’ before crash – fireworks firm
Andy Davies
Home Affairs Correspondent
As police reveal their investigation into the M5 crash is focused on a nearby fireworks display, the firm which put on the display tells Channel 4 News it took every precaution to ensure safety.
A spokesman for Firestorm Pyrotechnics told Channel 4 News the event had been agreed with Taunton Rugby Club’s promotions team in advance and appropriate measurements on site were taken, writes Home Affairs Correspondent Andy Davies.
The display started at 8pm and ended at 8.15pm, said the spokesman, and involved £3000-worth of “shell, cake and candle fireworks”.
“We used restricted size of shells,” he said, “and only ones which went straight up into the air”.
Firestorm Pyrotechnics insists that the smoke which was generated by the display drifted away from the motorway towards the spectators.
“The wind was blowing northways”, said the spokesman, away from the M5, adding that if the wind had been blowing in the other direction, the company “would have considered calling it off”.
Read more: 'Smoke not fog' across M5 at time of deadly crash
Earlier, Assistant Chief Constable Anthony Bangham said witnesses had described thick smoke rather than fog causing vehicles to brake.
ACC Bangham, in a press conference held overlooking the M5, mentioned the possibility of bonfire smoke, but Firestorm Pyrotechnics have told Channel 4 News that their display did not involve a bonfire at any stage.
The spokesman for the company said they advised Taunton Rugby Club against it. A representative of the fireworks company spoke to police last night about the event.