Woman, 52, arrested as fourth person held in murder probe after brother is charged with killing sister in A1(M) crash

Elena Chiriac, 22, died on October 4 when a silver Ford Transit and a silver Volkswagen Golf collided on the southbound A1(M) near Barton, North Yorkshire. Her brother Florin Chiriac, 31, of Newcastle, faces charges of murder, attempted grievous bodily harm and dangerous driving. A second man, Cristi Chiriac, 25, is charged with encouraging Florin to murder his sister by deliberately causing the collision. A fourth suspect — a 52-year-old woman from Newcastle — has now been arrested on suspicion of assisting the assault and released on bail.

Cristi Chiriac stood in the dock at York magistrates court facing the charge of encouraging the crash that claimed Elena's life.

Detectives are seeking witnesses and dashcam footage from drivers who observed either vehicle in the moments before the impact.

A 24-year-old man arrested following the crash has been eliminated from the inquiry and released without further action.