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Six men and two women have been killed and four others - including a child - rushed to hospital after a Bank Holiday horror crash involving two lorries and a minibus on the M1.

All eight victims were travelling in the minibus, which was from the Nottingham area.

Thames Valley Police said a five-year-old girl, a woman and a man are being treated in hospital with life-threatening injuries, while another woman has serious injuries.

They said police are working to inform the families of those involved - some of whom were visiting the UK from India.

The motorway was fully closed southbound between junction 15 at Northampton and junction 14 at Milton Keynes in the wake of the devastating smash but has now reopened.

The tragedy, which occurred in the early hours of today, sparked traffic chaos, with shocked road users describing the scene of the collision as "absolutely horrific".

All of the dead and injured victims were travelling in the minibus, which was crushed "flat" in the crash. The drivers of the two lorries have since been arrested.

Chief Inspector Henry Parsons, from the Joint Operations Unit for Roads Policing, said: “The scene facing the officers who attended was complex and the recovery operation which followed was challenging.

“This collision was deeply distressing for the members of the public who witnessed it, along with the emergency service workers who attended and displayed high levels of professionalism.

(Image: London News Pictures Ltd) (Image: London News Pictures Ltd)

"Thames Valley Police has highly trained collision investigators who, over the coming weeks and months, will work to determine what caused this tragedy."

One eyewitness has described how he fought to save a little girl who was trapped in the minibus for around an hour, giving her his jacket to keep her warm.

Brett Smith said: "A family has been destroyed.

(Image: London News Pictures Ltd)

(Image: Adam Hughes/SWNS)

"I held a little girl by her arms, trapped inside a vehicle, for a good hour or so with the emergency services and the fire service trying to help.

"I'm walked home with a blanket that the ambulance service provided me to stay warm because the little girl has got my jacket to keep herself safe.

"The fire and ambulances services did a really good job."

Emergency crews were called to reports of a three-vehicle collision on the motorway shortly before 3.15am. Both lorries and the minibus were travelling in the same direction.

It is thought the minibus had travelled from the Nottingham area, police said.

Ollie Miller, who witnessed the aftermath of the incident, said: "It looked horrible, the two lorries were badly smashed and I could see a vehicle underneath one of the lorries.

"It was totally destroyed. The minibus was basically flat. I feel sorry for all those affected."

A 31-year-old man from Worcestershire has been arrested on suspicion of one count of causing death by dangerous driving and one count of driving a motor vehicle with alcohol level above limit.

(Image: @ItsOllieYT/Twitter)

(Image: London News Pictures Ltd) (Image: London News Pictures Ltd) (Image: Adam Hughes/ SWNS)

A 53-year-old man from Stoke-on-Trent has been arrested on suspicion of one count of causing death by dangerous driving.

The suspects both remain in custody. According to Thames Valley Police, the crash took place between junctions 15 and 14, close to Newport Pagnell, Buckinghamshire.

The force confirmed eight people died in the collision, which occurred as millions of families prepared to take to the roads for the Bank Holiday weekend.

Three other victims had to be freed by firefighters using hydraulic rescue equipment. They were taken to hospital along with a fourth person.

Police initially said "several" people were killed.

But in a statement this afternoon, they said: "Eight people have sadly now been confirmed deceased and four people have been taken to hospital following the collision."

They added: "All of the deceased were travelling in the minibus. The four taken to hospital were also travelling in the minibus of whom one is a child."

(Image: Instagram)

(Image: Instagram)

The M1 southbound between junctions 15 and 14 has since been reopened.

This morning, some road users were taking to social media to describe chaos on the M1.

University student Alice Crook said she had missed her flight by just minutes after getting stuck in "standstill traffic" on the motorway for two hours.

She tweeted: "Big car crash on the M1, ended up in standstill traffic for 2 hours.

"Missed the gate closing by about 10 minutes :(."

Another Twitter user, Aimie Teader, posted: "M1 closed and stuck behind the accident.. doesn't look like I will be making my 10am flight from gatwick."

A third, Valerie Selby, wrote: "If you're on the M1 southbound Northampton or heading that way - chose an alternative route ASAP & be patient. The accident that has shut the motorway is the most horrific I have ever seen & I imagine road will be shut all day #M1."

(Image: Instagram)

And a fourth said: "Just driven past the crash on the M1. Looks absolutely horrific.

"Thoughts go out to all those involved.

Meanwhile, a woman called Kirsty Cooper wrote on Facebook: "Saw this this morning on my way away for the weekend, most horrific sight ever.."

One Instagram user posted a video of traffic on the motorway, saying: "Turns out leaving at 4am still doesn't miss #bankholidaytraffic#wearegoingtobehereawhile."

One of the lorries involved in the collision is thought to be a FedEx. The other appeared to have 'AML Logistics' printed on its trailer, which was pictured twisted around to the side.

Chief Inspector Henry Parsons from Thames Valley Police's Joint Operations Unit for Roads Policing, earlier said: “Emergency services are currently on the scene responding to this collision and road closures are in place.

(Image: Adam Hughes/ SWNS)

(Image: Adam Hughes/SWNS)

"We are aware there are a number of large scale events taking place this weekend and this closure is likely to have a significant impact on traffic disruption, so please allow extra time for your journeys.

"Our thoughts are very much with the families of those involved in this morning’s collision, and we are currently working to locate and inform their next of kins."

He added: "I would continue appeal to anyone who witnessed the collision and has not yet spoken to officers to please contact us. "

A spokesman for Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service said dozens of emergency workers attended the scene of the tragedy.

"One appliance and crew from Broughton, one from Newport Pagnell, one from Great Holm, two from Mereway, one from Woburn, three Urban Search and Rescue vehicles from Aylesbury and three officers - about 35 people in total - attended," he said.

"Thames Valley Police have confirmed several fatalities. Firefighters used hydraulic rescue equipment to release three people, who were taken to hospital with a fourth person."

A spokesman for the South Central Ambulance Service (SCAS) confirmed paramedics were called to the crash at 3.12am.

He said victims have been taken to hospitals in Milton Keynes, Coventry and Birmingham.

The spokesman said: "Our thoughts are with all those involved in the tragic incident on the M1 this morning and their families.

"South Central Ambulance Service sent to the scene, five ambulance crews, a doctor, two team leaders and two ambulance officers who worked alongside colleagues from East Midlands and East of England Ambulance Services to assess and treat a number of casualties.

"Sadly there have been several fatalities.

"We have treated four patients for serious or life threatening injuries who have been taken to hospitals in Milton Keynes, Coventry and Birmingham.

"We would like to thank all our SCAS staff and colleagues from across the services who worked hard to respond to this difficult situation."

Around 4.4million motorists were expected to take to Britain's roads today, as families travel up and down the country for Bank Holiday plans.

Many Wigan Warriors fans are travelling down to London to watch their side face Hull FC in the Ladbrokes Challenge Cup Final at Wembley Stadium.

Highways England tweeted this morning: "If you're travelling to #Wembley. @wiganwarriors v @HullOfficial #M1 is closed btwn J15 and J14. Consider alternate route."

(Image: Getty)

A whopping five million motorists are predicted to travel on Monday – a million more than last year’s Bank Holiday, according to the AA and RAC.

The RAC ­recommends that motorists set off early on Monday to beat the queues.

Coach operator National Express is putting on an extra 4,000 seats over the weekend to destinations affected by the Euston and Waterloo work.