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| Woman on hen party dies as 20 injured in crash on M62 | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A woman travelling to a hen party has died and 20 people injured in a crash on the westbound carriageway of the M62 in West Yorkshire. | |
| A major incident was declared after the collision between a lorry and a minibus near junction 32 at 11:30 BST. | |
| West Yorkshire Police said 20 people were in the minibus, and the driver of the lorry has been arrested. | |
| The westbound carriageway of the M62 is closed having been briefly opened to let trapped traffic through. | |
| It is expected to remain closed throughout the rush hour. The eastbound carriageway is fully open. | |
| The women, seven of whom are seriously injured, were travelling to a hen party in Liverpool in a minibus from South Elmsall near Wakefield, said West Yorkshire Police. | |
| Dave Walton, from West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, said crews from five stations attended the scene and found the minibus on its side. | Dave Walton, from West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, said crews from five stations attended the scene and found the minibus on its side. |
| "Some officers said it was the worst they had seen for a number of years," he said. | "Some officers said it was the worst they had seen for a number of years," he said. |
| Yorkshire Ambulance Service said it had put major incident procedures in place following the collision. | Yorkshire Ambulance Service said it had put major incident procedures in place following the collision. |
| Dr David Macklin, from the ambulance service, said crews were quickly on the scene and a number of bystanders also joined in the rescue operation. | Dr David Macklin, from the ambulance service, said crews were quickly on the scene and a number of bystanders also joined in the rescue operation. |
| "It was very difficult. We had to identify serious or life-threatening injuries and then the walking wounded," he said. | "It was very difficult. We had to identify serious or life-threatening injuries and then the walking wounded," he said. |
| One motorist, Pritpal Singh, 28, from Leeds, saw the immediate aftermath of the accident. | One motorist, Pritpal Singh, 28, from Leeds, saw the immediate aftermath of the accident. |
| "I was going in the same direction as the accident, the westbound carriageway. It was effectively gridlocked from 11.30am onwards. | "I was going in the same direction as the accident, the westbound carriageway. It was effectively gridlocked from 11.30am onwards. |
| "By noon everyone had shut off their engines and started walking around on the road. | "By noon everyone had shut off their engines and started walking around on the road. |
| "I was about a third of a mile back from where the accident was, I got out and walked up to the scene." | "I was about a third of a mile back from where the accident was, I got out and walked up to the scene." |
| The minibus was on its side and was severely damaged, said Mr Singh. | The minibus was on its side and was severely damaged, said Mr Singh. |
| Six air ambulances | Six air ambulances |
| Patients were treated at the scene before being taken to hospitals including Pinderfields Hospital in Wakefield and Leeds General Infirmary, the ambulance service said. | Patients were treated at the scene before being taken to hospitals including Pinderfields Hospital in Wakefield and Leeds General Infirmary, the ambulance service said. |
| At one stage six air ambulances were also at the scene, Great North Air Ambulance (GNAA) confirmed. | At one stage six air ambulances were also at the scene, Great North Air Ambulance (GNAA) confirmed. |
| Kevin Hodgson, GNAA director of operations, said the service had sent two air ambulances, which were joined by two from North West Air Ambulance and another two from Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire Air Ambulance. | Kevin Hodgson, GNAA director of operations, said the service had sent two air ambulances, which were joined by two from North West Air Ambulance and another two from Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire Air Ambulance. |
| One helicopter took a casualty to Leeds General Infirmary, while another flew to the James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough with a patient on board. | One helicopter took a casualty to Leeds General Infirmary, while another flew to the James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough with a patient on board. |
| Ch Insp Mark Bownass, of West Yorkshire Police, said family liaison officers were now helping the victim's family. | Ch Insp Mark Bownass, of West Yorkshire Police, said family liaison officers were now helping the victim's family. |