Collision – A Car Pile Up Triggers Murder Investigations

Mystery fans are well acquainted with Anthony Horowitz whose resume includes the TV series Foyle’s War, Midsomer Murders, and Magpie Murders. He also has written the Alex Rider popular mystery series for young people, and injects himself into the entertaining Hawthorne and Horowitz novels.

Horowitz is so prolific, that I’m always discovering something he wrote that I have yet to watch. The latest is the streaming series, Collision, which debuted on ITV on 2009 and later was shown on PBS. It’s now on Acorn TV and can also be viewed on Amazon Prime and Tubi (with commercials). A bonus? Shetland’s Douglas Henshall, stars as Detective Inspector John Tolin, who is returning to work after his wife was killed and his daughter badly injured in a car accident. 

A car pile up on the A12, which might be compared to I-95, involves numerous cars and a van. Two people die and many others are injured. The crash is triggered by police chasing a speeding BMW that’s driven by a young Black man whose girlfriend is one of the casualties. Her father is alleging racial profiling and suing. Higher ups need someone to investigate and Tolin volunteers, against the advice of his supervisor.

Tolin is paired with a traffic cop, Inspector Ann Stallwood (Kate Ashfield), who was in a relationship with Tolin when his wife died. He hasn’t contacted her since and she’s upset to have been shut out. But they need to put that aside in order to do their job.

The narrative bounces between the days and hours before and after the crash. We are able to learn more about the victims and, it turns out, they all have something to hide.

Jeffrey Rampton (Craig Kelly) owns a business importing furniture from the Netherlands. Despite objections from his wife, Sandra (Zoe Telford), he hires his unreliable brother, Danny (Dean Lennox Kelly), as a driver. When Danny’s white van is involved in the crash, he leaves the scene of the accident. He’s obviously carrying something in the van he doesn’t want the police – or his brother – to find out about. He will become a prime target for Tolin.

But Danny isn’t the only person with secrets. Karen Donnelly (Claire Rushbrook), works for a chemical company and is cooperating with a reporter from The Guardian to steal information about lethal pesticides being shipped to Africa. She manages to get the incriminating documents printed out, but is seriously injured in the accident. When Tolin visits her in the hospital, she pleads with him to recover the envelope containing the documents. He does, but it’s stolen from his car. Karen checks herself out against doctor’s orders, and she’s seen leaving the hospital with two thugs, not relatives. Tolin’s interview with Karen’s boss increases his suspicions that she may have survived the car crash, but won’t survive whatever she’s now involved in.

Brian Edwards is tired of living with his sick mother-in-law, Joyce. He volunteers to take her for a drive to give his wife, Christine, a much needed break. Brian can’t avoid the crash, and because Joyce is wearing her seat belt, she’s fine. But after Joyce starts shouting at him, criticizing his driving, he sees an opportunity to rid himself of the problem.

There are other stories to be told, including that of Sidney Norris (David Bamber), a music teacher, who left his last school under a cloud. CEO Richard Reeves (Paul McGann) escapes with minor injuries, although his driver is hospitalized. But at a fast-food rest stop on the A12, Reeves meets Jane (Lucy Griffiths), and is smitten. After several casual dates, he asks her to run away with him. But her boyfriend and his wife may have other ideas.

The writing by Horowitz and Michael A. Walker, is terrific, weaving the victims’ personal stories into Tolin’s investigation. Acting, across the board, is excellent. Even supporting roles, like Nicholas Farrell as Guy Pearson, who manages the police damaged car lot, are superb. But, of course, it’s Henshall who stands out and now we can see why he was tapped for the lead role in Shetland. 

The biggest surprise comes at the very end when we find out what really caused the crash.

Top Photo of Douglas Henshall and Kate Ashfield courtesy of Acorn TV