Fatal crash on M62

Two people have been killed in a crash on the M62 in West Yorkshire this morning.

Police say a 46 year old man and a 43 year old woman from Bishop Auckland were in an Audi when it was in collision with a lorry.

They were pronounced dead at the scene on the entry slip road at Junction 26.

Following minor repairs and a sweep of the carriageway the M62 re-opened at 4.55pm.

Details from the Highways Agency from earlier (Accurate at 3pm 25th July 2012)

Drivers are being urged to avoid using the westbound M62 in West Yorkshire following this morning's incident between Junction 26 and Junction 25 which resulted in two fatalities.

West Yorkshire Police is continuing to investigate the incident which happened at around 6am.   West Yorkshire Police will also be responsible for removing the two vehicles involved in the incident from the scene.

The Highways Agency has been working at the scene to help manage traffic but the closure of the westbound carriageway of the motorway has resulted in long queues before, onto and along the diversion route. A landslip along the A628, an alternative route between Yorkshire and Greater Manchester, has resulted in the closure of the westbound carriageway along a short section near Woodhead Pass with temporary traffic lights in place to manage vehicles past the landlsip sites. This has also resulted in long queues this morning partly caused by traffic avoiding the M62.

There is no trapped traffic at the incident scene along the M62 - all traffic stuck behind the incident was released by 9am.  However, Highways Agency Traffic Officers have been working alongside West Yorkshire Police to carry out welfare checks to drivers and passengers in slow moving traffic. The Highways Agency has also provided temporary toilet facilities and bottled water off the motorway. Anyone with urgent welfare needs should contact the emergency services.

The Highways Agency has also deployed extra recovery services to keep traffic moving onto the diversion route.

The Highways Agency's Regional Control Centre at Calder Park near Wakefield as well as the Highways Agency's National Traffic Operations Centre in Birmingham have set electronic signs across the motorway network to warn drivers of the closure.

Westbound entry slips at Junctions 28 and 27 of the motorway have also been closed to prevent drivers joining long queues in the diversion.

A spokesman for the Highways Agency said:

"This is a very serious incident and West Yorkshire Police has only just completed its accident investigation.  

"The police have now started to remove the vehicles and until that work is completed we won't be able to inspect the carriageway for any damage and clear any debris - although we do have vehicles on standby to do this work.

"We are working to keep traffic moving through the diversion but inevtiably traffic is very slow across the road network around the incident and drivers should avoid the area and delay journeys - or seek alternative routes - if possible.  At the very least drivers should be checking traffic conditions before setting out on journeys."