M65 crash: One dead and five rushed to hospital after horror smash

One person has died and five people have been taken to hospital following a severe crash^[1] on a motorway^[2].

The M65 is closed in both directions between junction 8 for Hapton, Lancashire, and junction 10 for Burnley in the same county. Three vehicles were involved in the smash at junction 9, also for Burnley, at around 3.37am.

Rush-hour commuters face lengthy delays as a result of the closure. Diversions take drivers along local roads, including the A671 through Padiham, and the A6068, both of which are congested this morning.

But Lancashire Police^[3] said it expected both carriageways to remain closed "for quite some time". The force tweeted: "Please be advised that the M65 is currently closed in both directions from J8 to J10 due to a road traffic collision. We anticipate that the road will be closed for some time whilst we make sure the road is safe. We’ll update you here once the road is open again."

National Highways said diversions are in place but advised drivers to prepare for journeys across Lancashire to take longer than usual. It said: "The M65 in Lancashire is closed in both directions between J8 (Hapton) and J10 (Burnley) due to a serious road traffic collision. Lancashire Police and emergency services are currently in attendance."

Traffic monitoring service Inrix reports: "M65 in both directions closed, long delays due to accident investigation work from J8 A56 (Accrington) to J10 A671 Cavalry Way (Burnley / Padiham). Congestion to along the A679 Accrington Road along the diversion route. Very busy on Barrowford Road through Higham and Padiham."

No further details about the deceased person or those injured have been disclosed by authorities at this stage. The crash happened on the oldest section of the motorway, which opened in 1981 to initially serve as a connection between Burnley and Brierfield, also in Lancashire. Over the years, several extensions were made, the largest being the link from Whitebirk, near Blackburn, to the M6 and M61 motorways in 1997.

References

1. ^{^} crash (www.mirror.co.uk)
2. ^{^} motorway (www.mirror.co.uk)
3. ^{^} Lancashire Police (www.mirror.co.uk)
4. ^{^} Thelwall Viaduct crash: How 'extremely lucky' lorry driver escaped from HGV (www.mirror.co.uk)