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The accident closed sections of the M1 for most of the day

Eleven vehicles including armoured vehicles, lorries and cars, were involved in the accident on one of the UK's busiest motorways during the morning rush-hour.

Four people died at the scene at 0730 BST on Wednesday when a transporter jack-knifed and catapulted two armoured vehicles into oncoming traffic.

The lorry was transporting armoured vehicles returning from the conflict in Iraq to Catterick in North Yorkshire from Marchwood in Hampshire.

Jack-knifed

Two people were airlifted to hospitals in Birmingham, where one later died.

Six others were taken to Leicester Royal Infirmary.

A spokesman for the East Midlands Ambulance Service described the crash as one of the worst he had experienced.

The accident happened on the M1 between junctions 19 and 20 in Leicestershire closing both carriageways.

MOTORWAY CARNAGE They just smashed everything in their path Brian Brooks Eyewitness

A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: "We believe that a vehicle pulled out in front of the transporter, which then swerved and jack-knifed.

The transporter had been hired by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and was being driven by a civilian.

No MoD personnel were involved in the crash.

The motorway was closed southbound between junction 21 and the M6, and northbound between junctions 19 and 20.

The accident caused massive tailbacks along many routes across the region, including the M6, M69, A14 and A46.

Massive tailbacks

Hundreds of vehicles were trapped in the closed section while emergency services rescued survivors and cleared away the wreckage.

It was feared the motorway, near to the entrance to the busy M6, could remain closed well into the night.

Motorist Brian Brooks, who saw the accident happen, said: "The trailer broke away and spun around, jack-knifed, and went through the central barrier and the tanks rolled off.

"Everything they hit - well - they didn't even look damaged. They just smashed everything in their path.

"Carnage was the right word."

A spokeswoman for Leicestershire Police: "Specialist investigators will be looking at the circumstances leading up to and surrounding the collision to ascertain the cause."