One person dies and five injured after huge pile-up on the M65

by · Mail Online

One person has died and four others were seriously hurt in a major three-car motorway crash early this morning.

Five ambulances raced to the scene of the serious collision on the M65 near Burnley in Lancashire after the emergency services were called at about 3.30am.

Lancashire Police closed both carriageways between junctions eight for Hapton and ten for Burnley for more than nine hours to carry out an investigation.

Five people were taken to hospital with serious injuries by North West Ambulance Service, but one of them died. The road was later reopened at about 12.50pm.

A file photograph of the M65 motorway in Lancashire. The crash happened early this morning

A Lancashire Police spokesman said: 'At around 3.37am we were called to reports of a collision at junction nine of the M65 involving three vehicles.

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'Emergency services attended and five people were taken to hospital with serious injuries, one person has very sadly died.

'Our thoughts are with their loved ones at this incredibly distressing time, and they are being supported by officers.'

And a North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust spokesman said: 'We responded to a road traffic collision following a call a 3.29am.

'Attending were five ambulances, two response vehicles and an operational commander.

'Five patients were taken to hospital, some (of) those required treatment for serious injuries.'

Bus operators including Rosso, the Burnley Bus Company and Vision Bus all reported delays on services this morning because of the road closures.

And Lancashire-based motorist Johnny Williams, 46, tweeted: 'Didn't have a two hour 24 minute commute to work on my bingo card, when I woke up this morning.

'Sadly, someone died and several were seriously hurt in a collision on the M65 overnight, so most other routes were gridlocked.'

Fellow driver Quintus Potgieter added: 'I'm stuck in it too. Been in here since 8.15am and still have 37 miles to go - which at this rate could take another hour and a half.'