A minibus driver who was among eight people killed in a crash on the M1 on Saturday has been described an extraordinary father who would do anything for his friends and family.
Cyriac “Benny” Joseph, 52, was killed when the vehicle he was driving crashed with two lorries on the southbound carriageway near Newport Pagnell.
The father of two children who owned Nottingham-based ABC Travels had been taking a group of Indian visitors from Nottingham to Wembley stadium to start a tour of Europe.
“It is a big loss to the community,” said his friend Manu Zachariah. “He was a very close friend of mine and we used to work together. It is very shocking and we don’t want to believe that he is not alive. We don’t want him to part us because he was part of every part of our lives.”
At a Catholic service in Lenton, Nottingham, on Sunday, friends and family paid tribute to Joseph, who lived with his wife, 19-year old son and 15-year-old daughter in Sherwood.
Zachariah described his friend as a dedicated family man. “Cyriac was not like normal fathers,” he said. “He would love to spend his money and time on his children like none of his friends. He was always very encouraging of their extra-curricular activities. His son Benson is an athlete and he would take him to javelin training.
“He was an extraordinary father and would do anything for his friends. He was always there for us and will be really missed.”
Father Biju Joseph, who performed a mass at St Paul’s church, said: “It’s so sad and we’re praying to God for his soul and his family. People are really shocked. He was such a good friend; he was like a brother to me.”
On Facebook, Soyimon Joseph paid tribute to his friend Cyriac, saying he had seen him the night before the crash. “Hearty condolences. I never thought yesterday [at] 10 pm you say thank you to me it was our last meeting. We will meet again in heaven,” he wrote, adding that his heart was broken by news of the death.
Three more of those killed in the accident were named on Sunday when IT firm Wipro Limited confirmed three of its employees died.
A spokesperson said: “It is with deep regret and sadness that we confirm the passing away of three of our colleagues, Karthikeyan Ramasubramaniyam Pugalur, Rishi Rajeev Kumar and Vivek Bhaskaran in a tragic road accident in the UK.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of all those who lost their lives in this tragedy. We will continue to provide all assistance to the families in this hour of grief.”
The company confirmed that another worker, Mano Ranjan Panneerselvam, was critically injured in the accident.
Two lorry drivers have been charged in connection with the crash.
Ryszard Masierak, 31, and David Wagstaff, 53, were charged with eight counts each of causing death by dangerous driving and four each of causing serious injury by dangerous driving. Masierak was charged with eight more counts of causing death by careless driving while over the drink-drive limit.
Masierak has been remanded in custody to appear at High Wycombe magistrates court on Monday. Wagstaff was bailed to appear at Milton Keynes magistrates court on 11 September.
Six men and two women died when the three vehicles collided shortly before 3.15am on the southbound carriageway of the motorway near Newport Pagnell, between junctions 15 and 14.
A man and woman were taken to hospital alongside the young girl, all with life-threatening injuries, Thames Valley police said.
Pictures of the vehicles at the scene of the crash appeared to show a FedEx lorry with its cab crushed and the cab of an AIM Logistics lorry twisted around to the side. Another image showed what appeared to be the crumpled wreckage of the minibus on the back of a flatbed truck. Broken glass and debris from the collision was scattered across the tarmac.
Spokesmen for AIM Logistics and FedEx expressed sympathies to those who lost loved ones and said the companies were assisting police with their inquiries.
• This article was amended on 28 August 2017 to correct the spelling of David Wagstaff’s surname.
