
A lorry driver has been sentenced to a decade in prison after his heavy goods vehicle crushed a taxi on the M62, instantly killing two young pilots who were being driven between airports.
Anthony Burns, 63, was travelling at approximately 56mph on July 11, 2024, when he failed to notice stationary traffic near Warrington. The court heard that Burns only applied his brakes one second before slamming into the back of a Toyota Auris taxi, pinning it against another HGV.
The victims, Captain Matthew Greenhalgh, 28, and First Officer Jamie Fernandes, 24, were traveling from Luton Airport to Liverpool John Lennon Airport. The two pilots had "slept for the majority of the journey," which had been described as "uneventful" until the moment of impact at 5:30 am.
The force of the collision was so severe that emergency responders initially struggled to identify the wreckage. Prosecutor Damian Nolan told Liverpool Crown Court that PC Owens, the first officer on the scene, "initially did not recognise the taxi as a separate vehicle due to the damage it had sustained."
In a survival described as "remarkable," the taxi driver, Rashid Mehmood, was found alive within the crushed metal.
"He could hear a voice shouting for help, but at first he could not see anyone, before a hand then appeared from the wreckage," Mr. Nolan told the court.
While Mr. Mehmood suffered broken bones and a fractured shoulder, the two pilots sustained "catastrophic injuries" and died at the scene.
Investigations revealed that warning signs above the motorway had reduced the speed limit to 40mph due to a lane closure. Despite this, Burns maintained his speed until the final second.
Senior Crown Prosecutor Joseph Woodyatt noted the lack of any clear reason for the lapse in attention, stating: "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."
Tests confirmed that:
No alcohol or drugs were in Burns' system.
There was no evidence he was using a phone or mobile device.
Vehicle defects did not contribute to the crash.
Burns, from Upton, Wirral, pleaded guilty to two counts of causing death and one of causing serious injury by dangerous driving.
In addition to his 10-year prison sentence, he has been "banned from driving for 150 months" and will be required to take an extended re-test if he ever seeks to regain his licence.

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