Former policeman in court over deaths of mother and daughter
A former police officer has been sent to crown court in connection with the death of a mother and daughter in a horror five-car smash on the A5.
Vinod Dahiya, 46, appeared before Cannock magistrates on two counts of causing death by dangerous driving and one charge of causing serious injury by dangerous driving.
Diane McGrail, aged 53, and her 14-year-old daughter Kira, both from Oakley, near Market Drayton, died at the scene following the collision.
The charges relate to a crash which happened on the A5 near Weston-under-Lizard in July last year.
Mrs McGrail and her daughter were passengers in a black Seat Ibiza.
The 17-year-old male driver, also a member of the same family, continues to recover at home.
Five vehicles were involved in the collision, which occurred at about 2.20pm on July 6. They were the black Seat Ibiza, a blue Audi R8, an orange Renault Megane, a black BMW 5 series and a silver Citroen C4 Picasso. As a result of the crash the road was closed in both directions for several hours whilst specialist officers carried out a detailed examination of the scene.
It had reopened by 1am on July 7.
Dahiya, from Muxton in Telford, was yesterday granted unconditional bail to appear at Stafford Crown Court for a preliminary hearing on March 23. He was a serving police officer in Telford for 10 years before leaving the force in November last year.
