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Five killed in head-on M1 crash Five killed in head-on M1 crash
(10 minutes later)
Five people have been killed in a head-on collision between two cars on the M1 in Bedfordshire.Five people have been killed in a head-on collision between two cars on the M1 in Bedfordshire.
The accident happened on the southbound carriageway just south of junction 11, the turn-off for Dunstable.The accident happened on the southbound carriageway just south of junction 11, the turn-off for Dunstable.
A Bedfordshire Police spokesman said the driver of a Volkswagen Passat and two men and two women travelling in a Jaguar had all died.A Bedfordshire Police spokesman said the driver of a Volkswagen Passat and two men and two women travelling in a Jaguar had all died.
The spokesman said it appeared the Passat, which was Polish-registered, had been travelling the wrong way.The spokesman said it appeared the Passat, which was Polish-registered, had been travelling the wrong way.
Shortly after 0500 BST, the Highways Agency said the accident had been cleared and that the motorway was open to traffic. Police said the accident had been cleared shortly before 0500 BST and that the motorway was open to traffic.
Bedfordshire Police also said the next-of-kin were being informed and the victims would not be named until that had taken place.Bedfordshire Police also said the next-of-kin were being informed and the victims would not be named until that had taken place.
Insp Colin Bonner, of Bedfordshire Police, said he had no idea why the Passat had been going in the wrong direction.Insp Colin Bonner, of Bedfordshire Police, said he had no idea why the Passat had been going in the wrong direction.
"The vehicle would have been travelling towards Junction 10, where there are some roadworks and some road closures, but the motorway was open for through traffic," he said."The vehicle would have been travelling towards Junction 10, where there are some roadworks and some road closures, but the motorway was open for through traffic," he said.
The cars were unrecognisable and there was nothing that could be done for the people involved Gary Sanderson, East of England Ambulance ServiceThe cars were unrecognisable and there was nothing that could be done for the people involved Gary Sanderson, East of England Ambulance Service
"There was no reason for that vehicle to have turned round at all, so we are very interested if anyone witnessed that vehicle turning around and any reason why they saw it turn round.""There was no reason for that vehicle to have turned round at all, so we are very interested if anyone witnessed that vehicle turning around and any reason why they saw it turn round."
The part of the motorway where the crash happened was down to one lane for repairs, police said.The part of the motorway where the crash happened was down to one lane for repairs, police said.
The southbound carriageway between junctions 10 and 11 was closed for several hours overnight while police dealt with the scene.The southbound carriageway between junctions 10 and 11 was closed for several hours overnight while police dealt with the scene.
Gary Sanderson from the East of England Ambulance Service said the crash victims were "quickly" pronounced dead by the emergency services.Gary Sanderson from the East of England Ambulance Service said the crash victims were "quickly" pronounced dead by the emergency services.
He said: "The cars were unrecognisable and there was nothing that could be done for the people involved.He said: "The cars were unrecognisable and there was nothing that could be done for the people involved.
He said the debris was spread over quite a lot of the carriageway.He said the debris was spread over quite a lot of the carriageway.
Police are urgently seeking witnesses to the crash. Anyone with information is asked to call 01234 841212.Police are urgently seeking witnesses to the crash. Anyone with information is asked to call 01234 841212.