A motorcyclist killed in a horror smash on the M62 was a man aged in his 30s from Lancashire.

He died following the crash with a car on the eastbound carriageway of the motorway where it crosses the Pennines on Friday morning.

The collision involved a blue Nissan Qashqai and a silver Aprilia motorcycle and happened close to the exit slip road at Junction 22 for Rishworth Moor, on Greater Manchester’s border with West Yorkshire, at about 11.45am.

The bike rider, a 36-year-old man from Preston, suffered serious injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police say his family are being supported by specialist officers.

The eastbound carriageway was closed between junction 21 for Milnrow and junction 22 for more than six hours whilst police dealt with the aftermath and carried out investigations.

The driver of the Qashqai has been spoken to by officers. No arrests have been made.

Witnesses and passing motorists expressed their horror on social media after the crash saying it was the ‘worst they had ever seen.’

One person tweeted: “Glad to finally be home. Saw the immediate aftermath of a truly horrific accident on the #M62 and now can’t stop thinking about that poor motorcyclist.”

Another said: “Just witnessed the most horrific accident on the #M62. It was a biker and a car.

“It was the most horrific accident I’ve ever seen in my life.”

(Image: Carl Mountney)

Tailbacks stretched for miles and surrounding roads were also gridlocked until the motorway finally re-opened at around 5:45pm on Friday evening.

There was also a second, unrelated crash on the other side of the motorway which reduced traffic heading towards Manchester down to one lane.

Police are urging anyone who witnessed the crash, or the movements of either the car or the bike in the lead-up to the crash, to get in touch.

They should call West Yorkshire Police’s Major Collision Enquiry Team on 101 quoting log 686 of 30 March.

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