First picture of ex-soldier M40 crash victim who died when car driving the wrong way on motorway cra

A CAR towing a caravan the wrong way down the M40 before crashing into two cars, killing three people, was involved in another smash just five days before the tragedy, it was revealed today.

Ex-soldier Sean Richards, 32, was today named as the first victim of the horror crash after a Subaru Forester, driving south, smashed into his Ford Mondeo along the motorway on Monday. 

Stuart, of Stockport, Cheshire, a former serving officer in the British Army who previously worked with Emerson Group, was killed, along with a man and woman in their 80s.

Thames Valley Police confirmed the tragedy had been referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct after it was revealed the Subaru had been involved in another damage-only crash five days before the M40 tragedy.

A spokesperson said: "Thames Valley Police has made a mandatory referral to the IOPC in relation to the fatal collision, due to previous police contact."

Panicked motorists had been forced to swerve out of the way of the Subaru on Monday afternoon as it ploughed the wrong direction down the northbound lanes of the M40 near South Oxfordshire on Monday.

Do you know what happened, or the people involved? Contact The Sun Online brittany.vonow@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368

The car is believed to have been on the motorway for eight miles, swerving between cars for seven minutes before the crash.

The driver and passenger of the Subaru Forester towing the caravan, both aged in their 80s, are yet to be formally identified.

Tributes have since flooded in for Stuart, who had a glittering career as a soldier in the British Army where he served in war zones in Afghanistan, Iraq and Jordan.

Stuart had also worked with spells overseas in Germany, Canada, Norway and across the UK.

The young man, who had currently been working as a Health and Safety officer for The Emerson Group in Stockport, Manchester, was today remembered as a "nice fella".

Hayden Jones, who is the building manager at the apartment block where Stuart previously lived, added: "I used to chat to Stuart quite a lot. He was friendly and easy going, a really nice fella.

“They were a lovely couple and when they moved out they send me a card which said ‘thanks for looking after us’.”

“It’s such a shock what’s happened.”

Friend Ashley today was too upset to comment, appearing tearful as she arrived at the home she shares with her father in Stockport.

Neighbours of the young man's parents also expressed their shock, with Paul Horton, 73, saying: "It’s a terrible way for any family to lose a loved one."

Stuart had also previously worked with Persimmon Homes, with Mark Cook, regional managing director of Persimmon Homes North West, saying: “Stuart only worked with us at for a short time, but everyone in the team is shocked and saddened by this tragic news.

"Our thoughts are with his family.”

Witnesses had previously claimed the car had foreign plates after seeing it travel down the motorway, but police have since confirmed the Forester was registered in the UK.

West Oxfordshire councillor Colin Dingwall witnessed the crash, saying: "I’ve seen a lot of things in my 50 years on the road, but never a caravan coming the wrong way up the M40.

“Luckily I and the cars near me managed to pull into the middle lane and get out of the way.

“I had about two seconds to react.”

Another witness said she saw the Subaru "heading towards" her.

A Thames Valley Police spokesperson said they had received reports about the car about 4pm on Monday, October 15.

They said: "A few minutes later, the vehicle was subsequently in collision with two other cars, a Ford Mondeo and a Ford Focus near junction 6.

"The driver and a passenger of the Subaru, both aged in their eighties, died. They are yet to be formally identified at this time.

"The driver of the Ford Mondeo also died. He has now been formally identified as Stuart Richards, aged 32, from Stockport, Cheshire.

"Thames Valley Police has made a mandatory referral to the IOPC in relation to the fatal collision, due to previous police contact.

"On 10 October this year in High Wycombe, a report of a damage-only road traffic collision involving the Subaru Forester was made to the Force.

"The IOPC will now make a decision as to whether they will carry out an investigation."

The M40 in South Oxfordshire was closed for for several hours as emergency services dealt with the casualties and traffic officers gathered evidence to piece together the final moments before the collision.

MOST READ IN NEWS

It was the second triple fatal collision on the Thames Valley's road in 48 hours as three special needs teachers were killed when in collision with a lorry on the M4 motorway.

The death toll has reached 10 on the Thames Valley's on seven days with a series of collision on the M40 and M4.

The IOPC will now make a decision as to whether they will carry out an investigation.

A spokesman IOPC said: "We are currently assessing a referral from Thames Valley Police to determine the level, if any, of our involvement following a fatal road traffic collision on the M40 in South Oxfordshire on Monday, October 15.”

We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at tips@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368. You can WhatsApp us on 07810 791 502. We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours.

ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7tbTErKynZpOke7a3jqecsKtfbIJzf5hsamilZGV6rrvTqKmwmalisLOt0qFknaqfq7Juw9GopaBlp5bGbr%2FTrpirrF2ntqS0wKubrGWmnrC1tcxo