Motorway crash resembled 'war zone'

Ten-week-old Elouise Statham and her 20-month-old brother Mason were killed with their brothers Reece, 13, and Jay, 9, and their parents David, 38, and Michelle, 33.

The couple and their four children were returning from a day away when they were involved in a five vehicle pile-up on the M6 in Sandbach, near Cheshire.

A 46-year-old Portuguese man - who passed a breath test following the crash - was being held on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.

The family were travelling between junctions 16 and 17 on the northbound carriageway when the tragedy happened.

Officers spoke of the aftermath resembling a war zone.

Cheshire Police confirmed the dead were two parents and four children who lived in Llandudno, north Wales. Both sets of parents of the dead couple come from Birmingham where the family had visited before the tragedy, police said.

The family car was so mangled that officers investigating the crash initially thought five bodies were inside. It was several hours later before confirmation came that a "very small" child was also in the car.

Investigators had to use the chassis number to trace the family through vehicle records. Police said the car had gone under the truck - belonging to a Spanish firm - and burst into flames.

Speaking near the scene of the tragedy, Cheshire Police roads inspector Brian Rogers said the carnage was so bad that fire, police and ambulance crews would need counselling. He said: "In civilian life it is the nearest thing you would ever come to a war zone."