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M6 family death toll rises to six M6 family death toll rises to six
(9 minutes later)
A sixth family member has died after their car caught fire in a collision on the M6 in Cheshire. Six people from the same family, including four children, have died in a collision on the M6 in Cheshire.
Three of the dead are believed to be children and the family are thought to be from Llandudno, North Wales.
Three lorries and two cars were involved in the crash between Junction 16 at Barthomley and Junction 17 for Sandbach at about 2240 BST.Three lorries and two cars were involved in the crash between Junction 16 at Barthomley and Junction 17 for Sandbach at about 2240 BST.
A 46-year-old lorry driver has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving. A 46-year-old Portuguese lorry driver has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.
The man, who is Portuguese, will be questioned through an interpreter. The family had set out from Birmingham on Monday evening to their home in Llandudno, north Wales.
At this stage... it is extremely difficult to identify the bodies Supt Jed Manley, Cheshire Police A Cheshire Police spokesperson said: "You can't possibly imagine the state of the car. It has gone under the truck and then gone on fire.
Police said the casualties had been in the same car which "suffered extensive fire damage when it ignited upon impact". Asked if the sixth person was a baby, the Cheshire Police spokesman said one was "very small".
Superintendent Jed Manley, from Cheshire police, told the BBC the condition of the vehicle made it "extremely difficult to identify the bodies inside". Earlier accident
Police said the crash appeared to have happened in heavy, slow traffic caused by an earlier accident in which a motorist from Cheshire, driving a white van, had died. He added: "The only reason we are saying this is because six people were in the car when it left its destination in Birmingham and there was no reason to think anybody got out of it on the way."
Police said the crash appeared to have happened in heavy, slow traffic caused by an accident two hours earlier on the same stretch of motorway.
A motorist in his 30s, from Cheshire, driving a white van, was killed in the earlier accident at 2100 BST.
Inspector Brian Rogers of Cheshire Police: ''Tragic collision''Inspector Brian Rogers of Cheshire Police: ''Tragic collision''
The earlier crash happened at 2100 BST between Junction 17 at Sandbach and Junction 18 for Holmes Chapel. The earlier crash happened between Junction 17 at Sandbach and Junction 18 for Holmes Chapel.
Insp Brian Rogers of Cheshire Police said both crashes would be part of the same investigation examining driving conditions, congestion and driver behaviour.
The northbound section of the M6 between junctions 16, at Stoke-on-Trent, and 17, for Sandbach, was closed for several hours after the crash.The northbound section of the M6 between junctions 16, at Stoke-on-Trent, and 17, for Sandbach, was closed for several hours after the crash.
One motorist, Aidan O'Rourke, from Manchester, told the BBC he waited nearly three hours before being allowed to pass the incident.One motorist, Aidan O'Rourke, from Manchester, told the BBC he waited nearly three hours before being allowed to pass the incident.
"Passing the accident scene I saw several lorries had been damaged, the cab of one was completely smashed," he said."Passing the accident scene I saw several lorries had been damaged, the cab of one was completely smashed," he said.
Colin McWilliam, also from Manchester, said traffic was at a standstill after that crash before police decided to turn vehicles round and escort them back along the motorway.
Traffic officers reopened the M6 at 0720 BST with traffic flowing, but "a little more congested than usual", a spokesman said.Traffic officers reopened the M6 at 0720 BST with traffic flowing, but "a little more congested than usual", a spokesman said.
Motorists were also affected by another crash on the M6 when a car travelling north between junctions 15 and 14 crossed the central reservation and hit a van heading south. The arrested man, who is Portuguese, will be questioned through an interpreter.