The widow of a Cheddar man who died in a crash on the M5 in 2018 has called for increased sentences for people convicted of causing death by dangerous driving.

Ceri Walsh was speaking after inquest of her husband Rod Wash today (June 17) and the conviction of the lorry driver who caused the accident on the M5 in September 2018 that took the life of her husband.

The inquest into Rod's death was indefinitely adjourned by senior Somerset coroner Tony Williams today, which is the normal course of action following a criminal conviction as the facts of the case have already been heard in public.

Highbridge woman Joanne Jennings also died in the multi-vehicle collision southbound between junctions 24 and 25, and the inquest into her death was also indefinitely adjourned today.

William Cater pleaded guilty on June 4 to two charges of causing death by dangerous driving and to two charges of causing serious injury due to dangerous driving, and was jailed for 35 months.

Speaking to Cheddar Nub News, Ceri has called for road crime to carry the same weight as other criminal convictions involving death.

She said: "The criminal side seemed to take ages and be dragged out by many obstacles not only Covid-19.

"No sentence would have been enough but the sentence William Cater received was insulting in the memory of Rod and Joanne Jennings, and heartbreaking for myself and Joanne's husband Harvey Jennings.

"Road crime still doesn't have the same criminal impact as other crimes involving death and I have written to MP James Heappey on the back of the charity BRAKE, not that it will do anything for my family and the Jennings family, but to try and make people listen and to consider increasing sentences and driving bans when these fatal collisions arise through dangerous driving.

"Life for me and the children changed forever on September 13 2018 and the dreams we had as a family vanished in seconds.

"I am very lucky to have my family living in Cheddar who have supported me and the kids since that day, but there are also a lot of friends in Cheddar who have just 'been there' and many still are helping to hold me together.

"Members of St Andrew's Church have also been an extended family through my loss and grief. Without all these I would seriously be struggling far more than I am and I am so lucky to live in a village such as Cheddar with all its love and kindness."

Rod Walsh was 54 and worked for NHS England when he died in the collision. The official cause of death was recorded by the coroner as chest injuries following a multi-vehicle collision.