Car travelling wrong way up M6 crashes, killing four men
POLICE were tonight trying to discover how a car ended up travelling the wrong way up the M6 before colliding with another vehicle, killing four people and injuring another.
The fatalities, all men, were travelling in two cars which collided on the southbound carriageway of the M6 motorway between junctions eight and seven.
A fifth man injured in the crash was described by West Midlands Ambulance Service as "walking wounded". He was taken to Sandwell General Hospital after the accident, which happened at 6am today.
A WMAS spokesman said the collision involved one car carrying four men and another containing a lone male driver.
The crash involved a silver Ford Fusion containing one man and a silver Peugeot 406 carrying four men.
The lone driver and three men from the other car were confirmed dead at the scene.
A spokesman for the Highways Agency said one of the cars involved had been travelling the wrong way along the motorway.
"One of the cars was travelling northbound on the southbound carriageway. We don't know how it happened, it is subject to a police investigation," he said.
A spokeswoman for West Midlands Police said: "At this stage while inquiries are ongoing, we have no ages or further details about the deceased.
"It is believed that the Ford Fusion vehicle was travelling in the wrong direction down the motorway before the collision occurred."
Chief Inspector Bas Sidhu, said: "This is a horrific collision which most tragically involved four fatalities.
"We would urge anyone with information travelling on that stretch of motorway at the time to come forward. They may hold vital information to assist with the inquiry."
The stretch of the M6 shut after the accident re-opened shortly after mid-day, police said.
A spokesman for West Midlands Fire Service said: "At 6am this morning two crews from Walsall were mobilised to a road traffic collision on the M6 southbound between junctions 8 and 7.
"On arrival crews were confronted by two cars in collision involving four fatalities.
"Crews remained on site while police make further investigations."
The Highways Agency spokesman said that the timing of the crash meant that diversions did not cause too many problems for drivers.
Describing traffic levels as "pretty good", he said: "We are using hard signs and electronic signs to warn drivers.
"Traffic from both carriageways was being diverted via junction 1 of the M5.
"The traffic was pretty good, it being early on a Sunday morning.
"We had some build-up behind the incident, which we were able to release within the hour."
Anyone with information should is asked to call the Central Motorway Police Group on 0121 626 1285.
