A tragic incident unfolded on the M6 as a man lost his life in a fatal crash when a vehicle was seen traveling in the wrong direction on the busy motorway. The collision occurred on the southbound section near Leyland and Standish, close to the Charnock Richard services, around 9.30 pm. Prior to the crash, authorities had reported a car, suspected to be a Vauxhall Astra, driving in the opposite direction on the motorway.
The collision involved a Vauxhall Astra and a Toyota Corolla on the southbound carriageway, resulting in the death of the Astra’s driver, a man in his 50s. Two men in their 40s, believed to be the occupants of the Corolla, sustained serious injuries and were taken to the hospital. The southbound carriageway remains closed as investigations are ongoing at the scene.
Due to the closure, drivers experienced significant delays, despite diversion routes being in place. Additionally, there are extensive delays exceeding two hours on the northbound side of the motorway, with two lanes still closed.
Lancashire Police investigators are seeking witnesses and dash cam footage related to the crash. They suspect that the Astra might have been involved in another incident on Blackpool Road in Preston shortly before the M6 collision.
Sgt Rebecca Price from the Road Policing Unit expressed condolences for the deceased and urged the public to cooperate with the investigation. She emphasized the impact on traffic in the area and requested patience from the community while the authorities carry out their inquiries. Witnesses or individuals with relevant footage are encouraged to come forward to assist in the investigation.