Bob Champion survives motorway crash

Former jockey Bob Champion has survived a serious motorway crash that involved four cars and ended in a fatality.

Packed motorway

The Grand National hero was driving on the M11 in Essex when he was hit from behind by a Ford Focus.

“The motorway was packed and had ground to a halt,” Bob told newspapers afterwards. “As we stopped, the car behind me hit me. A campervan went into the back of him, then another car hit the van from behind.”

The man who hit Bob, sadly died as a result of his injuries. He had two children in the car with him who survived the incident.

Three other people were airlifted to hospital and the road was closed for several hours.

Lucky escape

Bob was lucky to escape with whiplash. Medics who attended the scene advised the 66-year-old to go to hospital, but he said he wanted to get home. He then saw a doctor later.

“I am still shaken,” said the former jockey who beat testicular cancer to win the Grand National in 1981. “I feel so sorry for the man’s family. He looked like he was only in his 30s.”