M6 crash moment of madness as drivers play football after traffic grinds to a halt
Hundreds of motorists were forced to abandon their cars on a busy motorway after a crash sparked nightmare delays, with some even pictured playing football on the empty road as they tried to pass the time on a sunny Easter weekend.
Drivers on the M6 decided to ditch their cars and wait for time to pass in the sunshine on Easter Sunday. Some people were even spotted playing football following the delays in Lancashire. Shocking images showed people waiting on the grass and sitting on the the central reservation barrier as traffic ground to a halt. One road user descibed the scenes as the "wildest" she's even witnessed.
She wrote on Twitter: "Traffic closed on both sides for the past hour! Hundreds of people on the road! Wildest I have seen the motorway be. Really hope everyone is okay."
It was later confirmed that a 14-year-old boy had died following a crash next to the M6. Lancashire Police said emergency services were called at just after 12.15pm on Sunday after a Peugeot van left the carriageway between southbound junctions 34 and 33 and crashed into a tree.
No other vehicles were involved in the incident. A 14-year-old passenger in the van was pronounced dead at the scene. The van driver, a man in his 30s who was the father of the passenger, suffered serious injuries and was taken to hospital where he remains.
Sergeant Martin Wilcock, of the serious collision investigation unit, said: 'This collision has very sadly resulted in the death of a young man and left another man with serious injuries and my thoughts are with their loved ones.
'I would appeal to anyone who saw what happened, and who hasn't yet spoken with police, or anyone with dashcam or mobile footage, to get in touch. I would also like to speak to anyone who saw the van in the moments before the collision.'
No other vehicles were believed to be involved in yesterday's tragedy which caused the road to be closed for several hours. It has since fully reopened.
A spokesman for Lancashire Constabulary added: "We are appealing for witnesses after a collision on the M6 motorway left one person dead and another seriously injured. Emergency services were called at just after 12.15pm today (Sunday, April 20 th) after a Peugeot van left the carriageway between junctions 34 and 33 southbound near to university hill and crashed into a tree. No other vehicles were involved.
"A 14-year-old passenger in the van suffered serious injuries and was very sadly pronounced dead at the scene. The van driver, a man in his 30s and father of the passenger, suffered serious injuries and was taken to hospital where he remains. Our thoughts are with their loved ones at this time."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Secret tactics high street stores use to stop shoplifters - as police admit there's 'no point' arresting them
As shoplifting rates double and leading police chiefs admit there's 'no point' arresting thieves, members of the public and shop staff are having to take matters into their own hands. While innocent bystanders have started accosting suspected thieves, this week Lancashire Constabulary issued advice to business owners to say hello to shoplifters when they enter the premises, to deter them from setaling. Meanwhile, staff have also turned to their own secret tactics to catch them in the act, including handing a basket to customers they feel suspicious about. Popular shops including Iceland, Superdrug and Boots are sharing the methods they use to deter shoplifters in the hope that their stores can escape unscathed from the shoplifting epidemic. Staff in Iceland have resorted to locking suspected thieves inside stores to stop them escaping with bags full of produce. A clip shared on TikTok showed a security guard locking up the sliding doors as another member of staff tackled the shoplifter and attempted to wrestle the goods off them. Much to the shock of the thief's companion, the staff refused to let the detained shoplifter go so the accomplice began banging on the entrance, demanding she be released. Dressed in a fleece dressing gown with the hood up, the irate shopper shouted: 'Get off her man, come on, don't do that to her man. Why are you locking the door on her?'. She also yelled at the guards through the door asking them not to 'hold her like that' because 'she's a woman'. Inside, the security guard could be seen collecting several items from the floor and handing them back to shop staff. People in the comments asked whether the guard was allowed to detain the shoplifter but many more jumped to Iceland's defence and said the staff were within their rights to make a citizen's arrest. A citizen's arrest or an arrest without a warrant can be made if a person is in the act of committing an indictable offence or there are reasonable grounds for suspecting they are or might be about to. Offence include theft, burglary and criminal damage. Government advice warns that such arrests should only be made if a police officer cannot do it and if the person might cause harm to themselves or others, cause loss or damage to a property or escape before police arrive. While some supermarkets and shops are using citizens arrests to deter thieves, others are opting for a softer approach. Beauty chain Superdrug have taken to social media with a tongue in cheek campaign warning shoplifters that they are constantly being watched. In one clip, filmed by two staff members at a store in Stourport, outside Worcester, two sales assistants point to their headsets and body worn cameras to show potential thieves that they are being monitored and staff can communicate with each other. The video ends with them holding up a basket to the camera and pointing at it and then at the screen to indicate shoppers should use a basket. A video featuring staff from a shop in Halifax, west Yorkshire, showed the measures taken by the store to deter shoplifters. It followed one staff member as they followed and watched a potential thief who browsed products including a luffa and nail varnish. They appeared in various poses, hiding behind stands and crouching down as the Mission Impossible theme tune played over the clips. As well as watching closely, staff member Caitlin revealed Superdrug stores deter shoplifters by asking if they need any help. High Street pharmacy Boots has also taken to TikTok to promote its Stop, Think, Don't Shoplift campaign. In the minute-long video, a staff member at the Boots in the Arnison Centre, Durham, poses as a shoplifter and goes around the shop pretending to steal items while staff show how they tackle possible thefts. The clip starts by staff greeting the potential thief at the door, smiling, waving and saying hello. They then approach them as they shop, asking if they need any help as they pick up and put down various items. The Durham-based shop also showed off their rotating hooks which they say stops 'pesky thieves' and the security tags and plastic packaging on their beauty products which are difficult to remove. The high street chain has also instituted a rule of only three of each item, making it harder for shoplifters to grab a shelfful of expensive products and make a dash. The clip then shows the member of staff approaching the pretend thief and offering them a basket so it's easier to keep an eye on what they have taken. In another snippet, the fake shoplifter tried to open up luxury products but is fooled by an empty box, with the store advising other locations to use 'dummy boxes' provided by the beauty companies and to security tag the actual items. The video ended by a member of staff telling the would-be thief to 'stop' and 'think', resulting in the customer going through their pockets and bag and handing over an item they had attempted to steal. A store in Nottingham has also taken matters into their hands and installed CCTV to catch out shoplifters. A guard, watching live footage, issues announcements over the tannoy system telling thiefs they've been spotted and to return any stolen items meaning that stock is kept safe and instances of confrontation are avoided. The efforts of shopkeepers up and down the UK come after the total thefts reached 530,643 in the year to March, at an estimated cost of £1.8bn to retailers. Last year, Lancashire Police launched Operation Vulture, which encouraged businesses to use 'customer greeters' to cut down on crime. An online guide called How to Deter a Shoplifter, the force advised: 'By greeting genuine shoppers, not only does this provide a positive impression of your store, it also deters potential shoplifters. 'An offender is less likely to shoplift if they sense that they are to be seen and noticed by staff.' But the advice was criticised by another policing chief has seemingly admitted that there is little deterrent for shoplifters because they are so often freed by courts to steal again. Katy Bourne, the national lead for shoplifting at the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners, said: 'People have got to know that they're going to get caught and that there's a meaningful deterrent when they do it. There is no point arresting shoplifters if there is no effective deterrent.' Insisting that it is 'madness' that the thieves blighting Britain's retailers are often not being put behind bars, Ms Bourne told The Telegraph: 'People have got to know that they're going to get caught, and that there's a meaningful deterrent when they do. 'There is no point arresting shoplifters if there is no effective deterrent.'
BBC News
21 hours ago
- BBC News
Zombie knives, cannabis and motorbikes seized in Lancashire raid
Five motorbikes, zombie knives and a large amount of cannabis have been seized in a drugs Police said officers searching a property on Willow Hey in Skelmersdale also discovered several mobile phones, four e-bikes, machetes and an electronic stun gun.A variety of suspected stolen professional tools, including grinders and saws, were additionally found in Wednesday's operation.A 39-year-old man and two boys, both 16, have variously been arrested on suspicion of possessing and supplying drugs, theft of a motor vehicle, and possessing a firearm. All remained in custody, police said. 'Violence and intimidation' Sgt Luke Newman, from the West Lancashire Task Force, highlighted residents' concerns about electric and scrambler said: "Removing another nine from the streets of Skelmersdale, along with the eight seized during last week's operation, is really good news for those communities who should not be put at risk by reckless riding."The latest raid is part of Operation Warrior, Lancashire Police's response to tackling serious and organised crime in the aims to target those involved in crime and associated issues such as violence and intimidation, large scale drug supply, exploitation and fraud. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
The Sun
a day ago
- The Sun
Horror motorway crashes caused by ‘phantom braking' as cars screech to a halt from 60 to 0mph & urgent probe launched
FRANCE has launched an urgent probe into a series of motorway crashes blamed on 'phantom braking' – when cars suddenly screech to a halt at high speed for no reason. The probe follows a terrifying incident near Lyon, where driver Joanna Peyrache said her Peugeot 208 suddenly dropped from 65mph to a complete standstill on the motorway. 3 3 The car behind smashed into her vehicle, spinning it around, and leaving it badly damaged. Miraculously, she escaped with no serious injuries. Joanna told local media: 'The car behind collided with me, and my vehicle spun around 180 degrees under the shock. "I don't understand why the car suddenly braked.' Neither her insurance company nor the other driver's would take responsibility. She was left to dig for answers herself. Her ordeal has since sparked more than 300 similar reports from drivers who claim their vehicles also stopped without warning. Most of the cases involve cars fitted with Automatic Emergency Braking and other high- tech safety systems designed to prevent accidents. Instead, these gadgets appear to be triggering crashes by mistaking shadows, roadside signs or even harmless obstacles for danger. Some drivers have been so shaken by the incidents that they are considering launching a class-action lawsuit against carmakers. Moment idiotic driver receives 'instant karma' for brake checking lorry on motorway Experts warn the problem could be far wider than France. As modern cars rely more on driver-assistance systems, a single software glitch could put millions at risk. In one tragic case in December 2023, a passenger was killed when her car braked sharply on a motorway and was hit from behind. Another driver, Aurélie Tormos, said her own vehicle slowed without warning in a similar smash. Her passenger died and she was later convicted of involuntary manslaughter. Campaigners say these convictions must be reviewed if phantom braking is proven to be the true cause. A petition calling for a parliamentary inquiry has already picked up more than 450 signatures. It urges MPs to 'launch an immediate inquiry into the malfunctions of automatic braking systems'. The petition adds: 'Several car brands are affected. "The common thread among all these incidents: the presence of a driver assistance system, particularly for braking.' Christophe Theuil, vice-president of the French Federation of Automotive Expertise, explained: 'If the sensors are poorly adjusted, it's a bit like a nearsighted person driving without glasses. "With a difference of just one degree, the car can brake for objects that, in reality, are not present in the lane.' Officials say the investigation will examine sensors, algorithms and even weather conditions to understand what is going wrong. So far, there has been no official recall in France, though drivers say the fault appears across different makes and models. The row in France comes just days after thousands of UK motorists were slapped with a separate 'do not drive' recall. More than 100,000 Citroën and DS models on British roads have been grounded over potentially deadly airbags. The airbag scandal is not linked to phantom braking – but both cases raise questions about car safety and how quickly manufacturers act. Industry insiders warn the latest scare could damage trust in self-driving technology, which relies heavily on the same type of sensors now under suspicion. Some fear 'phantom braking' could even delay the rollout of autonomous vehicles if the issue is not fixed. Practical steps to take today Stop driving immediately. Park the car safely and remove the keys. Confirm your status by using the recall checker and then call your dealer with your VIN. Book the repair. Push for the earliest available slot or at‑home fix. Ask for mobility support. If no courtesy car is offered, request it explicitly - and ask about alternative options if the waiting list is long. Keep records. Save emails, note call times, and keep receipts for any extra travel costs. 3
