Police in driver plea after Anthony Burns sentence for fatal M62 crash
Cheshire Police has appealed directly to motorists following the sentencing of Anthony Burns, who killed two young men and seriously injured another in a horror crash on the M62. Lorry driver Anthony Burns ran into the back of a taxi on the motorway between Burtonwood and Rainhill Stoops, killing two airline pilots who were passengers in the back. The 63-year-old, of Wirral, was jailed for 10 years, with the court hearing that he was on 'autopilot' and braked far too late.
Burns, of Headington Road in Upton, was also disqualified from driving for six years on his release from prison. He admitted two counts of causing death by dangerous driving and one count of causing serious injury by dangerous driving. The court heard that the taxi came to a halt behind another lorry at around 5am on July 11, 2024, on the M62 westbound, as there was a queue and speed restrictions in place due to a collision on the opposite carriageway a few hours before.
There were no fewer than four illuminated flashing amber gantry signs with clear warnings for those heading towards Liverpool. Two signs warned of a queue after the junction, with the advisory speed set as 50mph, and then 40mph as they approached the roadblock. 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 56mph 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 driver survived and was heard by police officers who came to the scene, crying for help from the crushed remnants of the car. 
Burns was arrested but gave no comment to all questions asked during his interview, giving 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. Following the sentencing hearing at Liverpool Crown Court, Cheshire Police urged drivers to remain alert behind the wheel and to adhere to the speed shown on overhead signage.
Sergeant Russ Sime said: "There were plenty of warnings for motorists, yet Burns failed to act, which resulted in a tragic outcome that could have been avoided. "His failure to take note of the warnings and the stationary traffic ahead of him resulted in families being devastated, and their lives changing forever. "I cannot emphasise enough how important it is to adhere to the motorway warning signs.
This horrific and tragic event highlights exactly why you should." Joseph Woodyatt, senior Crown prosecutor for the CPS in Cheshire, added: "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 he 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."