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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
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| Two boys killed crossing motorway | Two boys killed crossing motorway |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Two boys aged six and seven years old have been knocked down and killed as they tried to push their scooters across a busy three-lane motorway. | Two boys aged six and seven years old have been knocked down and killed as they tried to push their scooters across a busy three-lane motorway. |
| The pair were making their way across the westbound carriageway of the M56 at Preston Brook, near Runcorn, when they were hit. | The pair were making their way across the westbound carriageway of the M56 at Preston Brook, near Runcorn, when they were hit. |
| Cheshire Police said at least three cars were involved and the boys were pronounced dead at the scene. | Cheshire Police said at least three cars were involved and the boys were pronounced dead at the scene. |
| The incident took place just before 1930 BST on Wednesday. | The incident took place just before 1930 BST on Wednesday. |
| The boys, who have not yet been formally identified, are thought to be from the nearby Murdishaw area of Runcorn. | The boys, who have not yet been formally identified, are thought to be from the nearby Murdishaw area of Runcorn. |
| The drivers wouldn't have been able to see them until it was too late Insp Russell Barnes | The drivers wouldn't have been able to see them until it was too late Insp Russell Barnes |
| It is understood they had been reported missing a little while earlier, and police were said to be looking for them at the time of the accident. | It is understood they had been reported missing a little while earlier, and police were said to be looking for them at the time of the accident. |
| Insp Russell Barnes from Cheshire Police said: "It is an absolute tragedy for everyone involved, both the family of these two boys and the people who witnessed it. | Insp Russell Barnes from Cheshire Police said: "It is an absolute tragedy for everyone involved, both the family of these two boys and the people who witnessed it. |
| "We had numerous 999 calls from drivers on the motorway to say that they had seen these two boys with their scooters on the hard shoulder. | "We had numerous 999 calls from drivers on the motorway to say that they had seen these two boys with their scooters on the hard shoulder. |
| "The police and highways agency deployed patrols but by the time they got there the collision had just happened." | "The police and highways agency deployed patrols but by the time they got there the collision had just happened." |
| Police said as they arrived people were swerving across the motorway to avoid the scene. | Police said as they arrived people were swerving across the motorway to avoid the scene. |
| Insp Barnes said: "The boys were hit by three cars. The drivers wouldn't have been able to see them until it was too late. | Insp Barnes said: "The boys were hit by three cars. The drivers wouldn't have been able to see them until it was too late. |
| "It is a rural part of the county there, it's unlit and there are no CCTV cameras. | "It is a rural part of the county there, it's unlit and there are no CCTV cameras. |
| "I just feel for everybody involved." | "I just feel for everybody involved." |
| Residents in the close where the boys lived were said to be in "deep shock" after a woman who lives nearby broke the news. | |
| A neighbour said: "It is absolutely terrible news. | |
| "We heard they had gone missing and the families were out looking for themyesterday evening, and then we heard that there had been this terrible crash onthe motorway." | |
| The Chester-bound carriageway, a busy route for those commuting between Manchester and Cheshire, was closed temporarily by police while investigations were carried out. | The Chester-bound carriageway, a busy route for those commuting between Manchester and Cheshire, was closed temporarily by police while investigations were carried out. |