Five die in M1 pile-up

Five people died and five were injured today in a pile–up on the M1 that brought traffic in the region to a virtual standstill.

Five people died and five were injured today in a pile–up on the M1 that brought traffic in the region to a virtual standstill.

The rush–hour crash near Leicester, which closed the motorway in both directions, is believed to have happened after a vehicle pulled out in front of a transporter carrying armoured vehicles back from the Gulf.

The transporter jack–knifed, catapulting at least two Scimitar armoured vehicles into oncoming traffic, a Ministry of Defence spokesman said.

The crash happened at around 7.25am and it was feared that the road would remain closed until around 9pm.

It was shut between junctions 19 and 21 and hundreds of cars remained trapped on the closed section while emergency services rescued survivors and cleared away wreckage.

The AA warned that the crash had brought traffic in the region to "a grinding halt", with tailbacks stretching into Northamptonshire.

"There's heavy traffic build–ups in and around the East Midlands, particularly in Leicestershire," spokesman Simon Woodings said.

There were fears that England fans travelling to tonight's Euro 2004 qualifier against Slovakia could be caught in the chaos.

Rescue workers pulled survivors from the wreckage, treating the injured at the scene.

Four people died at the scene while two of the most seriously injured casualties were airlifted to hospital. Another four were taken by ambulance, one of whom later died in hospital in Birminngham

It was not known if the transporter, which was hired by the MoD and being driven north by a civilian driver, crossed carriageways before the initial smash.

The safety barrier which divided the carriageways was ripped from the central reservation and lay across several lanes, suggesting that at least one vehicle had gone through it.

One buckled vehicle, almost impossible to identify, lay across the road, blocking two lanes of the southbound carriageway, while a removal van seemed to have been smashed into the hard shoulder.

The caterpillar tracks of at least two of the upturned armoured vehicles could be seen among the crash wreckage.

They were eight–tonne Scimitars – lightly armoured reconnaissance vehicles – being transported from Marchwood in Hampshire to the Army's base in Catterick, North Yorkshire.

No MoD personnel were involved in the crash.

An MoD spokesman said: "We believe that a vehicle pulled out in front of the transporter, which then swerved and jack–knifed.

"I think what would have happened was that it catapulted the vehicles on to the other side."

The Scimitars were still painted in desert colours and other sand–coloured military vehicles could be seen on the northbound carriageway.

The main crash happened on the southbound carriageway, and accident investigators have begun trying to pinpoint the cause.

Traffic was diverted to other routes but the M6, M69 and A14 were all affected by the congestion.

AA spokesman Mr Woodings said: "It's a bleak scenario. It's effectively bringing the region to a grinding halt.

"The M1's a key north–south arterial route and once that's in a stranglehold, everything comes to a halt, like a concertina effect."

The M1 is believed to carry about 150,000 vehicles a day, he said.

A spokesman for Leicestershire Police said they expected the motorway to be closed for some time and cars were being diverted along other routes.

Inspector Paul Orton said: "Our first priority is to those involved in the collision.

"I am sure that people caught up in the congestion will understand that and appreciate that we will be trying to assist them as soon as we are able to."

He advised people travelling long distances to avoid the M1 and take alternative routes.