M6 crash: Boy, 14, dies in horror tree smash and dad left seriously injured

A in when the van driven by his father hit a tree after earlier today, closing the road for several hours.

Emergency services were called at around 12.15pm today when a Peugeot van left the carriageway between junctions 34 and 33 on the southbound carriage of the motorway and collided with the tree. A 14-year-old passenger in the van suffered serious injuries in the tragedy and was pronounced dead at the scene. The teenager's father, who was driving the vehicle, suffered serious injuries and was rushed to hospital where he remains.

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Sgt Martin Wilcock, of Lancashire Constabulary's Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said: “This collision has very sadly resulted in the death of a young man and left another man with serious injuries and my thoughts are with their loved ones.

“I would appeal to anyone who saw what happened, and who hasn’t yet spoken with police, or anyone with dashcam or mobile footage, to get in touch.

“I would also like to speak to anyone who saw the van in the moments before the collision.”

Anyone who can help should call 101 quoting log 0503 of April 20th. You can also email the Serious Collision Investigation Unit at SCIU@lancashire.police.uk."

No other vehicles were believed to be involved in today's tragedy which caused the road to be closed for several hours. It has since fully reopened.

A spokesman for Lancashire Constabulary added: "We are appealing for witnesses after a collision on the M6 motorway left one person dead and another seriously injured.

"Emergency services were called at just after 12.15pm today (Sunday, April 20th) after a Peugeot van left the carriageway between junctions 34 and 33 southbound near to university hill and crashed into a tree. No other vehicles were involved.

"A 14-year-old passenger in the van suffered serious injuries and was very sadly pronounced dead at the scene. The van driver, a man in his 30s and father of the passenger, suffered serious injuries and was taken to hospital where he remains.

"Our thoughts are with their loved ones at this time."