A driver in a , died had been travelling on the wrong side of the road, it has was claimed.
Cumbria Police said officers were called to a report of a Skoda travelling south on the northbound carriageway of the near Tebay Services at 4.04pm on Tuesday.
The officers were on route to the scene when further calls were received reporting the Skoda had been involved in a head-on collision with a Toyota, the force said.
The 42-year-old man driving the Toyota, as well as a 33-year-old woman and two boys aged 15 and seven, all from Glasgow, were pronounced dead at the scene. The 40-year-old Cambridgeshire man driving the Skoda was also declared dead at the crash site.
READ MORE:
A third boy in the Toyota, also aged seven, was airlifted to the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle where he remains in a serious condition. All six people involved in the crash have yet to be formally identified.
Photographs on social media showed a huge plume of black smoke rising into the sky above the motorway at the site of the crash. The images also showed the tailbacks created by the incident, with traffic backed up across all three lanes of the motorway.
Four fire engines from nearby Penrith, Kendal and Shap were mobilised following the incident, and fire crews remained at the scene for several hours. A spokesperson for Cumbria Police said: "The families of those involved are being supported by specially trained officers.
"Officers would like to thank members of the public that assisted at the scene and those affected by the collision for their patience. We would also like to thank those that have already been in touch who witnessed or have dashcam of the incident, we continue the appeal to anyone with information or with dashcam to contacts us.
"Anyone with information relating to this incident can report online at www.cumbria.police.uk/report-it, quoting incident number 146 of 15 October. You can also phone on 101. Alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111."
You may also like
Vivek Ramaswamy replies if he supports Trump's 'enemy within' narrative: 'Had Elon Musk's rocket...'
Assam Police emerging as one of the finest forces of the country: CM Sarma
Strictly's Janette Manara pleads 'move on' after husband Aljaz interrupts It Takes Two
CM Omar Abdullah receives guard of honour, holds maiden meeting after assuming office
David Muir Fact-Checking Trump At Presidential Debate Questioned As FBI Revises 2022 Crime Rate
Man Utd accept defeat to Real Madrid in chase for top transfer target after scouting mission
Blackpink's Rosé Teases New Collab Song With Bruno Mars
Chandrababu Naidu unveils six policies to make Andhra industrial powerhouse
Strictly star pulls out of studio appearance at the last minute due to 'dad duties'
Teen passed driving test six months before horror Snowdonia crash that killed four
Manipur eco reviving, efforts on to expedite delayed projects: CM Biren Singh
Bihar Police set up SIT to investigate hooch tragedy, 8 detained
UAE: Testing innovation in space? Abu Dhabi startup, overseas university chosen to send payload aboard satellite
Bigg Boss 17's Sana Raees Khan Recalls Receiving Death Threats: My Profession Involves High Risk
Venugopal meets Siddaramaiah & Shivakumar ahead of bypolls
Princess Kate's incredible sofa parenting hack helps keep the kids calm
Daniil Medvedev smashes racket five times and erupts after being bagelled by Jannik Sinner
Shakib set for Bangladesh swan song in home South Africa Tests
Stalin Wishes Omar Abdullah on becoming J&K chief minister
Civic volunteer among two arrested in Bengal on molestation charges