Crash on M6: three-year-old girl and elderly man killed in accident near Preston

Police have confirmed that a three-year-old girl and a 79-year-old man have died following a horrific collision on the M6 in Lancashire.

The little girl was travelling in a Vauxhall Meriva which was in a collision with a Porsche Boxter sportscar being driven by the man who died. One of the cars over-turned and caught alight. Two other people who were in the Meriva had serious injuries and were taken to the Royal Preston Hospital for treatment.

Police are appealing for witnesses to the collision which happened at 5:50pm on Saturday 19 November and saw the motorway closed overnight, with two lanes in need of resurfacing. A Lancashire Police spokesman said: "Officers were called around 5.49pm (on 19 November) to reports of a collision between two cars on the southbound carriage between junctions 29 and 28. Sadly, a three-year-old girl and a 79-year-old man suffered fatal injuries. Our thoughts are with their families at this sad and distressing time and they will be supported by specially-trained officers.

"We believe a Porsche Boxster car driven by the 79-year-old man collided with a Vauxhall Meriva car in which the young girl was travelling. Two adults in the Vauxhall Meriva suffered serious injuries and were taken to the Royal Preston Hospital for treatment. The motorway was shut for several hours while the collision was investigated and for repairs to the carriageway."

Sgt Craig Booth, serious collision investigator, said: “These are very sad and tragic circumstances. This was a traumatic scene for all witnesses and emergency services involved. I would like to pass on my thanks for their dedication in dealing with an incident which can only be described as horrific.”

Anyone with information or who has footage, should contact 101 – quoting log 1102 of November 19.

Motorists trapped in the tailbacks last night between junctions 29 and 28 took to social media overnight to condemn "heartless" drivers who used the hard shoulder to get past.

One said he had dashcam footage of the "disrespectful" drivers and would be handing it to police for action to be taken against them.