Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Six killed in crash with lorry

Pa
Thursday 10 July 2008 06:30 EDT
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Six people died today when a car hit a lorry head-on.

The six were all in the car when it crashed on the A607 near Melton Mowbray in Leicestershire in the early hours.

The lorry driver, a 48-year-old man from Melton Mowbray, was arrested but later released without further action.

He was taken to the Leicester Royal Infirmary for treatment.

The six who died were in a black Ford Mondeo thought to be travelling towards Leicester.

They are all believed to be young but their ages are not known.

It is understood formal identification is unlikely to take place today.

Sergeant Simon Adkin, of Leicestershire Police, said: "The investigation is in its very early stages but it appears that the vehicles collided head-on.

"We are still going through the process of establishing the identifications of the deceased but I do believe they are all from the Leicester area.

"The scene is still secure and collision investigators are down at the scene trying to establish the cause and the circumstances leading up to it.

"The lorry driver is now being treated as a significant witness.

"We need to trace any other potential witnesses who were travelling along the A607 at the time."

The crash scene, in countryside near the villages of Kirby Bellars and Eye Kettleby, is expected to be closed for most of today and is causing traffic delays on the Leicester to Melton Mowbray route.

The lorry driver's 17-year-old son arrived at the scene this morning to collect some of his father's belongings.

The college student did not want to be named but said his father is from the Melton area and is undergoing treatment at the Leicester Royal Infirmary after complaining of chest pains.

He is thought to have been "on his way back to the depot" at logistics and transport firm Norbert Dentressangle, in Easton, near Grantham, Lincs.

A Norbert Dentressangle spokeswoman said: "We can confirm he is one of our staff.

"We understand that the police are still investigating the accident, therefore we feel it would be inappropriate to comment at this time.

"We have been in contact with him but I believe he's still undergoing treatment."

Nearby residents said the A607 Leicester Road, a main route out of the town, was closed between the Focus DIY store roundabout in Melton Mowbray and the village of Kirby Bellars.

Joy Catlin, 47, who lives in the nearby village of Asfordby and can see the Kirby Bellars stretch of the A607 from her house, said: "There are a number of really bad bends along that road.

"It's a really bad stretch of road. There was an accident on one of the bends the other day.

"If you don't know the road well, it's difficult to drive. There's an S-bend, followed by another bend - it's really bad.

"There was a car in a field the other day near the turning for the village of Great Dalby."

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in