Two friends killed as car crashes into HGV and bursts into flames
Two lifelong friends were killed in a horror crash on the way home from a takeaway.
Adam Shiers, 25, was driving home with his friends[1], Liam Ward and Jamie Knox, along the M57 when his black Seat car crashed into the back of a HGV near to junction 6 for Kirkby[2]. The car burst into flames on the carriageway following the crash, which occurred at around 9.10pm on February 3.
Adam and Liam, 24, who was travelling as a front seat passenger, both died at the scene, while friend Jamie managed to free himself from the car. An inquest into Adam's death held at Sefton Coroner's Court in Bootle Town Hall today, June 27, confirmed the 25-year-old died from multiple injuries.
The inquest heard how the three friends, who grew up together, had been out food at Beat Chicken on College Road in Waterloo[4] on the evening of February 3. They ate their food in the car before making their way home to Westvale so Adam could get changed in time for a leaving do for a friend, who was going to Australia.
In a statement read out in court, Jamie said they joined the M57 on their way home and were travelling in lane three. He said: "I think we may have been going a bit faster than 70mph but can't be sure."
As the car changed lanes, Jamie described hearing the sound of a loud bang and put his hands up onto the seats in front of him. The inquest heard how the car started suddenly going to the left as a tyre blew out, before it crashed into a HGV that was travelling at 55mph in lane one.
In a statement read out in court, the HGV driver described seeing car headlights coming towards him in his left side mirror before the car disappeared from view. The driver said he felt the impact of the crash and while his steering was fine, it felt like the trailer attached to his vehicle was dragging.
He pulled onto the hard shoulder where he saw the black Seat car "embedded into the back of the trailer." The inquest heard how a lot of smoke was seen coming from the car before it burst into flames.
Jamie managed to get out of the car and spoke to the HGV driver, who waited with him until emergency services arrived. Paramedics attended and Adam and Liam were pronounced dead at the scene at 9.55pm.
Toxicology reports showed Adam had no sign of any alcohol or drugs including prescription drugs in his system at the time of the crash. Both vehicles were also sent for an examination which found the HGV had no mechanical defects which would have caused the crash.
However, the nearside tyre of the Seat was found to have suffered a blow out which caused Adam to lose control of the car.
Coroner Graham Jackson said: "While the evidence is that Adam was driving down the motorway in excess of that 70mph limit, I'm satisfied that it was the tyre blow out which was the reason for the catastrophic events that followed, resulting in the death of not only Adam but also his friend Liam.
"The evidence I've heard is absolutely dreadful. I can't imagine what you as the family have gone through."
Coroner Jackson recorded the cause of death as due to a road traffic collision.
In a statement shared following Adam's death in February, his family described him as "one of the nicest and kindest people you could ever meet." They said Adam "loved his football, especially Liverpool FC" as they called on Liverpool and Everton fans to applaud him during the Merseyside Derby on February 13.
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References
- ^ Adam Shiers, 25, was driving home with his friends (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
- ^ Kirkby (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
- ^ 'Beautiful fun loving' woman, 29, died after abandoning car near walking route (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
- ^ Waterloo (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
- ^ here (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)