A couple and their teenage son died after their BMW was seen travelling at speeds witnesses estimated at up to "140mph" before crashing on the M5, an inquest has heard. Andrew Moore, 46, Swala Harling, 47, and Sebastian Moore, 14, from Derbyshire, were all pronounced dead at the scene after the vehicle left the northbound carriageway in South Gloucestershire on the evening of Friday, May 30.
Driver Mr Moore, his partner in the front passenger seat, and their son in the nearside passenger seat were all killed. The cause of the high-speed crash remains unclear, with a coroner stating there was insufficient evidence to conclude Mr Moore had experienced a medical episode, despite his epilepsy, aortic valve replacement and pacemaker.
Witnesses describe 'airborne' crash
At Avon Coroner's Court, eyewitnesses described seeing the estate car undertaking, weaving across motorway lanes and speeding up the hard shoulder. Andrew Robiliard said the BMW overtook him at speed in the outside lane before switching to the hard shoulder to undertake lorries, estimating its speed at "over 100mph".
Lorry driver Adam Norris said he was "shocked" to see the car undertake him, estimating its speed between 100mph and 120mph, possibly as much as 130mph. Joshua Jack estimated the car was travelling at approximately 140mph, noting it "had thrown up debris from the hard shoulder, which covered my car".
Motorist Andrew Harding said: "Not only was the car driving fast, but I could see it had its hazard lights on. I formed the opinion it appeared like someone apart from the driver was trying to steer." He added the driver appeared to be over-compensating, causing the car to swerve from side to side.
Collision likened to 'an explosion'
Ali Shabaz witnessed the crash through his rearview mirror, describing it as "like an explosion, with a big cloud of smoke followed by car parts being thrown everywhere". Lorry driver Peter Bakowsky saw brake lights come on and heard tyres screeching before the vehicle crashed into barriers and landed in a field.
Jurgens Terblanch, travelling on the southbound carriageway, said the white car "speed direct into and collide with the barrier with a massive force, and the car pitched upwards and went airborne towards several trees just off the motorway". He described it travelling "some distance airborne before it collides with the trees and dropped into what looked like a ravine off the motorway".
No cause identified
Emergency crews attended, but the three people from Chesterfield were pronounced dead shortly afterwards. Crash investigators could not determine any faults or defects with the BMW due to its extensive damage. Post-mortem examinations found Mr Moore, a mechanic, and Ms Harling, an IT worker, died from multiple injuries, while Sebastian's cause of death was head injuries.
Toxicology for Mr Moore was negative for drugs and alcohol, and analysis of his heart and brain found "nothing of note" that caused or contributed to the death, the coroner stated. Area coroner Dr Peter Harrowing said: "It is not for me to answer a question of why." He concluded there was insufficient evidence to indicate a deliberate act, mechanical defects, or a medical episode, delivering conclusions that the deaths resulted from a road traffic collision.
