M65 crash update: Appeal for witnesses continues as two men arrested are released under investigation

The two men arrested after a serious collision on the M65 on Sunday evening have been released under investigation pending further inquiries.
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Police are continuing their appeal for information after the collision, at 5-50pm, left two people with serious injuries.

Officers are investigating whether two cars racing against each other was a factor in the accident which saw the full closure on the motorway westbound between J14 (Colne) and J12 (Nelson & Brierfield).

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The collision happened after two cars, a white BMW 330 and a black VW Polo GTI, joined the motorway at J14 and appeared to race westbound along the carriageway.

A police witness appeal to a serious crash on the M65 on Sunday evening  continues as the two men arrested in connection to the crash are released pending further inquiries.A police witness appeal to a serious crash on the M65 on Sunday evening  continues as the two men arrested in connection to the crash are released pending further inquiries.
A police witness appeal to a serious crash on the M65 on Sunday evening continues as the two men arrested in connection to the crash are released pending further inquiries.

Both vehicles then undertook a third car, a blue Renault Megane, which lost control and collided with the central reservation before ending up on its roof.

The driver of the Megane, a 43-year-old man from Colne, was thrown from the car and suffered serious injuries.

The front seat passenger, a 37-year-old woman from Colne, also suffered serious injuries. Both were taken by ambulance to the Royal Preston Hospital.

The BMW and the Polo made off from the scene.

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Two men, aged 21 and 26, both from Nelson, were later arrested on suspicion of causing serious injury by dangerous driving, failing to stop at the scene of a collision and failing to report a collision.

The vehicles have been seized for examination.

The M65 was closed for a number of hours for collision investigation.

Sgt Finn Quainton, of Lancashire Constabulary’s Tac Ops, said: “This collision has left two people with significant injuries and I would appeal for anyone who saw the collision itself or the manner of driving of the BMW, Polo or the Megane prior to the collision to get in touch. I would also ask anyone who may have dashcam to come forward.

“A number of witnesses have described two vehicles racing and we are investigating whether that was a factor in the collision.”

Anyone with information should contact police on 101 quoting log 1141 of April 26th