Head on Crash

Six people are dead after a head-on collision involving a car and a lorry.

All six were occupants of a Ford Mondeo travelling towards Leicester on the A607 near Melton Mowbray in Leicestershire.

A 48-year-old lorry driver, from Melton Mowbray, was arrested and later released without charge. He is now receiving treatment at Leicester Royal Infirmary following complaints of chest pains.

The six people in the Ford have not been identified but it is believed they were all of a young age.

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 believe they are all from the Leicester area.

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

It is believed the lorry driver was on his way back to the depot at logistics and transport firm Norbert Dentressangle, in Easton, near Grantham, Lincolnshire, when the accident happened.

Norbert Dentressangle confirmed the man is one of their staff.

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David Urpeth from law firm Irwin Mitchell said: "This was a tragic and horrific road traffic accident which claims the lives of 6 young people.

"Due to the size and weight of lorries, road crashes involving them often result in serious or fatal injuries.

"I regularly act for people who have been injured or killed in road traffic accidents. The people I act for include drivers, passengers, motorcyclists, cyclists or pedestrians."