ONE person died and several others were seriously injured in an horrific Midland motorway multiple pile-up which left some vehicles on fire.

It happened when a lorry and several cars collided on M42 where it meets the A42 between junctions 10 and 11 at around 8.40am yesterday.

Flames engulfed the lorry and one of the cars a West Midlands Ambulance spokesman said.

Two air ambulances were scrambled and airlifted a seriously injured man, believed to be in his 50’s, to Birmingham’s Selly Oak Hospital.

A woman, in her late 20’s who sustained multiple injuries, was airlifted to University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire.

Five other people were treated at the scene for minor injuries before they were taken to Leicester Royal Hospital and Burton Hospital by East Midlands Ambulance Service crews.

The M42 was closed at junction 11 southbound for much of the day and the Highways Agency urged motorists to find alternative routes where possible.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said “An HGV lorry and several other vehicles that had been in a significant collision. The lorry and a car were on fire.

“The fire was extinguished by the fire service, but unfortunately nothing could be done to save the person in the car and they were confirmed dead at the scene.”

Motorway police are investigating.