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M6 family death toll rises to six M6 family death toll rises to six
(about 2 hours later)
Six people from the same family, including four children, have died 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 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 and 17 at about 2240 BST.
A 46-year-old Portuguese 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 family had set out from Birmingham on Monday evening to their home in Llandudno, north Wales. The crash happened in traffic caused by an earlier accident on the same stretch of motorway in which former rugby league player David Myers died.
The family, a man and a woman and four children, from Llandudno in north Wales, left Birmingham on Monday evening where they are thought to have been visiting family.
Police said both parents of the man and woman involved had been informed and that they both lived in Birmingham.
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.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.
Asked if the sixth person was a baby, the Cheshire Police spokesman said one was "very small".Asked if the sixth person was a baby, the Cheshire Police spokesman said one was "very small".
Earlier accidentEarlier accident
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."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. Police said the crash appeared to have happened in heavy, slow traffic caused by an accident less than 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. Mr Myers, a former Widnes and Great Britain Rugby League player, was killed in the earlier accident, which took place at 2100 BST, between Junction 17 at Sandbach and Junction 18 for Holmes Chapel.
Inspector Brian Rogers of Cheshire Police: ''Tragic collision''Inspector Brian Rogers of Cheshire Police: ''Tragic collision''
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.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.
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.
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.
The arrested man, who is Portuguese, will be questioned through an interpreter. The arrested man will be questioned through an interpreter.