Live updates as road close after tragic death of 17 passengers in Double decker bus

A driver lost control of his car and reached speeds of more than 90mph just before he hit Paula Barnes, 15, Belinda Brown, 19, Paul Carr, 16, Sheree Lear, eight, and seven-year-old Ian Lilley.

Shaun Gooch, a 24-year-old Penhill resident, was sentenced to five years in prison for causing death by careless driving.

Long before the fatal collision, irate activists had been demanding a reduced speed limit and additional road safety measures. Following the collision, a roundabout was erected to the entrance of Cheney Manor Industrial Estate, and the speed limit was lowered from 40 mph to 30 mph.
now the incident, residents have taken care of a memorial plaque placed at the spot, even though the relatives of the victims have now moved away and the bench where the kids played has been taken down.

The memorial along Akers Way shortly after it was put in place.

Nigel Pascoe QC described the high-speed chase that led to the tragedy as “a scene of dreadful devastation” at Gloucester Crown Court in 1992.

Shaun Gooch and 23-year-old Anthony Gallagher were racing their Ford Escorts on Akers Way at a minimum speed of 80 mph, according to the prosecutor.

The two automobiles were seen speeding towards the scene by witnesses. After shifting into a lower gear, Gooch’s vehicle passed Gallagher’s XR3i and another Ford Escort that was waiting to turn.

They witnessed the automobile lose control, hit the curb, spin, and seem to take off before colliding with the bench where the children were sitting.