A man tragically lost his life after driving the wrong way down the M6 motorway on Sunday night, resulting in a devastating head-on collision.
The incident unfolded just after 9:30pm near the Charnock Richard services on the southbound carriageway. Lancashire Police were alerted to a Vauxhall Astra travelling against the flow of traffic, a dangerous situation that escalated within minutes.
Wrong-Way Crash on M6 Leaves One Dead, Two Seriously Injured
The Astra, driven by a man in his fifties, collided with a Toyota Corolla carrying two men in their forties. The force of the impact left both passengers with serious injuries.
They were rushed to the hospital for urgent treatment. Sadly, the driver of the Astra was pronounced dead at the scene.
Emergency services swiftly closed the affected stretch of the M6 to manage the aftermath and begin a thorough investigation. The southbound carriageway remained shut well into the following day, causing significant disruption.
Police are now piecing together the events leading up to the crash. Early evidence suggests the Astra may have been involved in a minor collision on Blackpool Road in Preston around 9:15 PM, shortly before entering the motorway in the wrong direction.
Shocking twist: Police suspect the Astra was already damaged before the fatal motorway crash, and a possible earlier incident might hold crucial answers.
Witnesses and Dashcam Footage Urgently Needed
Sergeant Rebecca Price from Lancashire Police’s Road Policing Unit made a heartfelt plea to the public: “A man has sadly died in this collision, and our thoughts are with his loved ones at this time.
I want to make a direct appeal to anyone who was travelling on the motorway, and may have witnessed, or have dashcam footage of the collision.”
She continued: “We’re also keen to see any footage from Blackpool Road in Preston, at around 9:15pm, where we believe the Astra may have been involved in a damage-only collision. If you have any information or footage that could assist those enquiries, please get in touch with us as soon as you can.”
Appeal for Patience and Respect
Sergeant Price also addressed the local community directly, thanking drivers for their patience and urging people to avoid online speculation: “This will understandably cause some discussion in the local community, but I want to take this time to ask that you please refrain from speculating online or otherwise and allow our team to carry out our investigation.
Please remember that there are real people who have been affected by this collision who may see your comments online.”
How to Help
If you were travelling along the M6 on Sunday night or nearby in Preston and witnessed anything unusual or have relevant dashcam footage, police are urging you to come forward.
You can contact Lancashire Police on 101 or email [email protected], quoting log 1162 of October 26.
Key Points:
- Incident occurred around 9:33pm near Charnock Richard services
- Vauxhall Astra was seen travelling the wrong way before colliding with a Toyota Corolla
- One fatality confirmed; two others seriously injured
- Police suspect an earlier incident on Blackpool Road, Preston
- Public appeal for dashcam footage and witnesses
As authorities work to uncover the full story, the community is left shaken by the sudden and tragic events. This incident serves as a grim reminder of how quickly a single mistake can have life-altering consequences.
Stay with UK News Blog for further updates as the investigation unfolds.
