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Fireworks smoke linked to UK crash that killed 7

Police investigating the cause of a 34-car pile-up on a major British highway that killed seven people and injured 51 said Sunday they are focusing on a fireworks display near the accident site.
 

A general view of the scene on the M5 motorway close to Taunton in southwestern England, Saturday Nov. 5, 2011 following a 27 vehicle pile-up late Friday, in which at least 7 people were killed and dozens of others injured. Around 27 vehicles, including a number of articulated lorries, were involved in the devastating crash, described by emergency workers as 'the worst road traffic collision anyone can remember' in the area. (AP-Yonhap News)
A general view of the scene on the M5 motorway close to Taunton in southwestern England, Saturday Nov. 5, 2011 following a 27 vehicle pile-up late Friday, in which at least 7 people were killed and dozens of others injured. Around 27 vehicles, including a number of articulated lorries, were involved in the devastating crash, described by emergency workers as 'the worst road traffic collision anyone can remember' in the area. (AP-Yonhap News)


While initial reports suggested fog and wet road surfaces were partly to blame for the huge collision, police said they have now zeroed in on the fireworks show after evidence taken from witnesses indicated that black smoke emerging from it may be the main culprit.

Rescue workers have described the road accident as one of the deadliest in the country in years.

``We believe from the witnesses and from what we're being told that it was smoke and not fog,'' Assistant Chief Constable Anthony Bangham told reporters. ``The vehicles and people who were entering into the smoke bank have just described it as being impossible to drive through and that, of course, causing them to brake.''

Friday night's crash on the M5 highway in southwestern England saw dozens of cars and industrial trucks consumed by flames, with intense fireballs that made it difficult for rescue workers to get near the vehicles.

The fireworks display in a nearby rugby club was one of many organized over the weekend across Britain to mark Guy Fawkes Day, an annual commemoration of the English activist who tried to blow up Parliament in the 17th century.

The probe into what caused the accident will be taken up by crime teams and road police, Bangham said.

Police have finished removing all vehicles from the highway in Somerset, and the roads have partly reopened. (AP)

<한글 기사>

폭죽 연기 때문에.. 34중 연쇄 추돌사고

지난 4일 밤 잉글랜드 남서부 고속도로에서 7 명이 숨진 34중 추돌사고의 원인이 폭죽 연기 때문이라는 증언이 잇따라 경찰이 수사를 벌이고 있다.

M5 고속도로 사고를 수사중인 경찰은 6일 "안개가 아니라 연기 때문에 앞을 분간하기 힘들었다"는 피해자들의 증언을 토대로 폭죽에서 발생한 연기가 사고 발생의 원인일 수 있다고 보고 수사중이다.

당시 사고로 대형 트럭과 승용차 등 34대가 잇따라 충돌하면서 불이 나 7명이 숨지고 51명이 다쳤다.

사고를 전후해 고속도로 옆에 위치한 톤턴 럭비클럽에서는 대규모 폭죽놀이가 진행됐다.

이때 발생한 연기가 고속도로에 깔려 안개와 뒤섞이면서 앞을 분간하기 힘든 상 황이 빚어지면서 연쇄 추돌로 이어졌다는 것이다.

경찰 관계자는 영국 스카이뉴스와의 인터뷰에서 "안개가 끼어있는 상태에서 고속도로에 연기가 두텁게 깔리면서 운전이 불가능한 상황이 된 것으로 보인다"고 말했다.

경찰은 이에 따라 피해차량 운전자와 폭죽을 터뜨린 행사 관계자, 마을 주민 등을 불러 조사를 벌이고 있다.

영국에서 매년 11월 5일은 `가이 포크스'라는 로마 가톨릭 혁명 단체의 구성원이 1606년 전제 정치를 일삼던 제임스 1세를 의회에서 폭약으로 암살하려다 미수에 그친 것을 기념하는 날이다.

이날을 전후해 주민들은 동네마다 폭죽을 터뜨리며 캠프 파이어를 만들어 짚 인형을 태우는 대규모 불놀이 행사를 즐긴다.

 

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