Tributes have been paid to family members – including two children – who died in an M6 crash which police say involved a car going the wrong way along the motorway.Â
A GoFundMe appeal has been set up to help support the family of mother Jade McEnroe who is believed to have been among those killed in Tuesday’s collision.
A 33-year-old woman, a man, 42, and two boys aged seven and 15 were killed when the Toyota they were in was hit near Tebay services in Cumbria shortly after 4pm.
A third child, aged seven, in the same car was rescued from the wreckage and Cumbria Police this morning said he remained in a ‘serious condition’ in hospital.
A 40-year-old man from Cambridgeshire also died in the tragedy, having driven a Skoda which was said to be travelling south on the northbound carriageway.
A photo of a woman, Jade McEnroe, who died in a tragic M6 motorway crash has been shared on Facebook as a GoFundMe page was set up for her family
Five people died in the collision on the M6 near Tebay services in Cumbria on Tuesday
Terrified fellow motorists had called 999 to report the Skoda on the M6, moments before flames erupted from the two vehicles as they crashed into each other.
Formal identification of those killed has not yet taken place, but their families are being supported by specialist police officers.
The force said today that they might not be able to confirm identities until next week due to the ‘seriousness’ of the collision.
But friends have been sharing tributes on Facebook, including Hayley McEnroe who shared a photo of her with Jade McEnroe.
She captioned it: ‘Can’t believe this news , you’ll be missed so much homie. In so much shock rest in peace jade.’
Maggie Snodgrass shared a photograph of family members said to be involved in the tragedy as she wrote, ‘Heartbreaking such a lovely girl just pray for arron and thoughts to all at this sad time x’.Â
She added: ‘Still can’t believe it. I’ve known the family for about 20 years or more used to be pals with my nicola such a lovely family so sad.’Â
Comments in response included, ‘So so sad Rip’, as well as: ‘I can’t believe it. So heartbreaking news.’Â
A 33-year-old woman was among those who died – people have been posting tributes on Facebook to Jade McEnroe
She was pictured by Hayley McEnroe who wrote: ‘Can’t believe this news , you’ll be missed so much homie. In so much shock rest in peace jade’
The M6 motorway remained closed on Tuesday night as police remained on the scene
The GoFundMe page was set up by Shelly Keith the title: ‘The Young family who lost their lives in the tragic M6 Crash.’Â
She wrote: ‘Sending lots of love. Any help towards funeral costs and to assist the family at this extremely hard time would be very much appreciated!’
More than £3,600 has so far been donated by wellwishers.Â
Cumbria Police said investigations were continuing into Tuesday’s collision, which happened as drivers reported that digital displays on the motorway were warning of an ‘oncoming vehicle’.
One motorist said he saw the Skoda travelling the ‘wrong way down lane three’ and then, shortly after, he witnessed ‘smoke and flames’.
Another witness said on social media they saw the Skoda ‘swerving from [the] hard shoulder out to lane three’ and then ‘slamming on’ the breaks.
Chris Isles, 58, said he was close to the crash on Tuesday and viewed black smoke and flames pouring from the vehicle.
Mr Isles, from Kirkoswald near Penrith in Cumbria, said: ‘From where I was, 50 yards further back, it just seemed like a vehicle fire.
Police say the crash involved a Skoda travelling southbound on the northbound carriageway
A witness described the huge emergency service response to the collision, while saying there was ‘lots of black smoke’
Jade McEnroe (pictured) was described on Facebook as ‘such a lovely girl’
Friends have taken to social media to express their sadness following Tuesday’s tragedy
‘I was parked up and I could see the smoke. It hadn’t really happened that long. I literally must have been two minutes behind it happening.
‘I got out of my campervan and just looked won the line, and between the lines of vehicles in front of me I could see there was quite a big fire that started.’
Four fire engines were sent to the crash, and remained there for ‘several hours’.
A Cumbria Fire and Rescue spokesman said its firefighters used ‘two breathing apparatus’ and ‘one hose reel jet’.
He added: ‘One casualty was extracted prior to the arrival of the fire service and conveyed to hospital.’
Shortly after firefighters got the call, air ambulances were dispatched to the roadside at 4.19pm and arrived less than ten minutes later.
A spokesman for the Great North Air Ambulance said: ‘We had a doctor and paramedic on board our Cumbria-based helicopter and they arrived on scene at 4.27pm.
‘Our team assessed and treated the patient before airlifting them to hospital.’
Jade McEnroe (pictured) had tributes to her shared on Facebook, including comments such as ‘God has sure got an angel with him’
This photo (taken by a traffic camera) shows the traffic build up following the collision on the M6 northbound in Cumbria around 4pm on Tuesday
Cumbria Police said investigations were continuing into Tuesday’s collision and have appealed for witnesses to come forward with information
Tributes have been posted online as well as encouragement to help a fundraiser for the family
The seven-year-old boy who survived the crash was taken to the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle for treatment, while others in the Toyota were declared dead at the scene, Cumbria Police said.
A force spokesman said: ‘The families of those involved are being supported by specially trained officers.
‘We would also like to thank those that have already been in touch who witnessed or have dashcam of the incident, we continue to appeal to anyone with information or with dashcam to contact us.
‘Anyone with information relating to this incident can report it online, quoting incident number 146 or October 15. You can also phone on 101.’
