Lorry driver jailed for crash that killed two airline pilots
13 January 2026
Press Release Driving offences Mersey-Cheshire
A lorry driver who ran into the back of a taxi on the M62 motorway near Liverpool, killing the two airline pilots who were passengers in the back, has been jailed for 10 years.
Anthony Burns, 63, of Headington Road, Upton, Wirral, drove into the back of the Toyota taxi near the Burtonwood junction of the westbound carriageway near Warrington around 5am on 11 July 2024.
The taxi had come to a halt behind another lorry as there was a queue and speed restrictions in place due to a collision on the opposite carriageway a few hours before.
The outside lane of the westbound carriageway had been closed to allow for emergency vehicles dealing with the earlier crash and vehicles were being filtered into the other two lanes.
Evidence showed that Burns did not slow down as he approached the queue but maintained the 56 mph he had been doing for 35 minutes before the crash.
He applied his brakes just one second before the impact, by which time it was too late.
The two Ryanair pilots in the back of the taxi, Jamie Fernandes, aged 24, and Matthew Greenhalgh, aged 28, were killed instantly. The taxi had been embedded under the lorry in front.
The taxi driver survived and was heard by police officers who came to the scene, crying for help from the crushed remnants of the car.
The driver had picked the pilots up at Luton Airport and was taking them to Liverpool.
He was later treated in hospital for broken ribs, bruising to his legs and cuts. He was released from hospital three days later.
Burns was arrested on 12 July 2024 but gave no comment to all questions asked.
He gave no explanation for the manner of his driving up until the crash.
There was no evidence that he had been drinking or taking drugs or using his phone in the run up to the incident.
Today (13 January 2026) at Liverpool Crown Court, he pleaded guilty to two counts of causing death by dangerous driving and was sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment and is banned from driving for 150 months.
Senior Crown Prosecutor Joseph Woodyatt, of CPS Mersey Cheshire, said: "The impact of Anthony Burns' dangerous driving on that day was fatal and tragic.
"Two men, with their lives ahead of them, who were simply making their way to work, were killed at the scene.
"The taxi driver, luckily, was not seriously injured but has no doubt been seriously impacted by the events of that day.
"Burns has provided no explanation whatsoever for his role in the tragedy.
Why he failed to brake as he approached the queue of traffic is a mystery.
"Victim Personal Statements from the families movingly described the impact of the crash on them.
"The Crown Prosecution Service would like to express our condolences to them for their loss.
We would also like to thank the witnesses who have helped us build this prosecution and bring Anthony Burns to justice."