truck In a terrible multi-vehicle highway collision, people seemed to have died and then caught fire.
At A1 County Durham On Friday morning, it was closed for several hours after a truck crashed into several cars and broke through the two-lane central reserve.
On-site images showed that the felled truck was burning.
Durham Constabulary confirmed that three people died at the scene-a man driving a Toyota Hilux, a man driving a Vauxhall Crossland, and a woman.
The formal identification is expected to take some time. However, their family members have been informed and supported by specially trained officials.
Several other people were injured in the collision and two of them need to be hospitalized.
A 41-year-old man-the driver of one of the trucks-was arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving causing the death of another person. He is still in police custody.
DS Dave Ashton, who led the investigation, said: “This is a heartbreaking event for everyone involved. We are with the families and friends who have lost their loved ones.
“It is incredibly disturbing and painful for those who witnessed the collision and the emergency rescuers who attended the scene, including police, firefighters and paramedics.
“Therefore, out of dignity and respect for those who have lost their lives, we ask people not to share photos and videos of the collision.
“This will be an extremely complex and lengthy investigation, because the collision sites are distributed over a certain distance and many of the vehicles involved have been severely damaged.
“The road will remain closed for the remainder of the day so that professional collision investigators can work on site and determine the conditions surrounding the accident.
“Before reopening, the damage to the road needs to be assessed to ensure the safety of future road users. Therefore, motorists should avoid the area and plan ahead when they need to travel.
“We understand the serious damage caused by this incident and thank people for their patience, understanding and cooperation while working on our site.”
At 6:30 pm on Thursday, a crash occurred on the northbound lane of Bowburn, and Durham Constabulary is calling for information.
The English Road Agency said the road was closed in both directions on Friday.
They added: “J60 to J61 are closed in the north-J62 to J60 are closed in the south. The road will be closed all day while the police continue to investigate. We don’t have time to open. Please plan your journey.”
