Two teens die after car plunges from bridge and crashes into minibus on motorway

By ELEANOR MANN[1]

Published: 23:12, 10 April 2026 | Updated: 23:22, 10 April 2026

Two teenagers have died after a car crashed off a bridge and hit a van below on the M1, which has been closed for 10 hours.

Police were called to the scene at 1.33pm on Friday after reports that a blue car, travelling along Gilmorton Lane towards Lutterworth left the road bridge above the carriageway and collided with a minibus travelling southbound on the M1.

The two teenagers in the blue car were declared dead at the scene, Leicestershire Police confirmed, while four people who were travelling in the minibus were taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

The driver of the white Fiat Ducato minibus was discharged, while three women remain in hospital.

The National Highways said that an accident investigation was underway, and it is expected that this will be a 'protracted closure'.

Families travelling during the busy Friday afternoon rush and the school Easter[2] holidays have been stuck on the motorway for 10 hours, as the road remains closed.

The M1 has been closed for nearly 10 hours after a fatal collision which killed two teenagers

Some families have been stuck on the M1 for nearly 10 hours. Pictured: mother-of-two Grace Victory shared updates of the closure on social media

Many were left in tears after being trapped on the M1 for the entirety of Friday afternoon, with the motorway near to the East Midlands Airport close by also shut due to oil and fuel spillages.

Distressed families with kids shared their frustration on social media, saying they had 'no communication' from emergency services.

One mother-of-two, Grace Victory, posted to Instagram: 'Latest update is 10pm to get us moving.

'I've now cried because I just don't know what to do.

Two kids. No water left. No snacks left.

It's their bedtime so they are absolutely losing it.

'No communication from police or the highways agency. People are having to now walk up and get answers. There's babies here.

There's other kids here. I just cannot believe it.'

She later added: 'We are cold. We are tired.

We are getting no communication from emergency services.'

Leicestershire Police said: 'Fire and Rescue Services and the East Midlands Ambulance Service attended the scene.

'The road is likely to remain closed for a number of hours yet while forensic work continues to be carried out.

'Leicestershire Police would like to hear from anyone who was driving on Gilmorton Lane or on the M1 in the area of junction 20 - in both directions - at around 1.30pm on Friday afternoon.

'Please contact us on 101, quoting incident number 308 of 10th April or visit https://leicspolice.link/7LXmr.'

The National Highways said: 'Due to an earlier collision involving a car and a van the M1 was closed in both directions at 13:35 to provide a safe and sterile working environment for Leicestershire Police, Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service, East Midlands Ambulance Service and the Air Ambulance Service at the scene.

'Accident investigation is now underway, and it is expected that this will be a protracted closure.

'National Highways Traffic Officers are dealing with traffic management.'

Drivers are being urged to avoid the area, as traffic is being caught within the closures currently being turned around and directed via the previous slip exit.

References

1. ^ ELEANOR MANN (www.dailymail.co.uk)
2. ^ Easter (www.dailymail.co.uk)