TWO people were killed in a three-car pile-up on the M6 near Warrington.
The crash occurred on the southbound carriageway of the motorway between Junctions 20 and 21, on the Lymm side of Thelwall Viaduct.
A man and a woman, both travelling in the same vehicle, a silver Peugeot van, died at the scene and had to be cut from their wrecked car by fire crews. They were both in their 80s and from North Wales.
Police say the woman driver of one of the other cars, a BMW, has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving. She is 61 and from Knusford – not Warrington as police originally believed. She was not seriously hurt and is still being held in custody.
A 51-year-old man from Lanarkshire who was in the third car, also a BMW, complained of chest pains after the crash and was taken to Warrington Hospital..
The crash occurred shortly after 9pm last night (Tuesday). The southbound carriageway of the motorway was closed for six hours as emergency services struggled to extricate the victims from their car and clear wreckage from the carriageway. The northbound carriageway was not affected however.
Fire crews from Warrington and Stockton Heath were involved in the operation.
Highways Agency staff diverted traffic away from the motorway, but tailbacks did build up.
The identities of the deceased have not been revealed.
Police are appealing for witnesses of the crash and anyone who can help should call 0845 458 0000.
