Two women killed in accident that forced closure of motorway

Two women were killed and three people suffered minor injuries in an early-hours crash which forced the closure of a motorway.

Warwickshire Police said a woman in her 60s and another aged in her 50s were pronounced dead at the scene on the M42 near Curdworth after a collision involving a Mercedes van and a Vauxhall Meriva.

Emergency crews were called to the scene on the northbound carriageway at around 3.19am on Friday.

In a statement confirming details of the crash, police said the fatally injured women were passengers in the rear of the Vauxhall.

The driver of the Vauxhall, a man in his 70s, and the front passenger, a man in his 30s, suffered minor injuries but did not require hospital treatment.

The police statement said: "Next of kin have been informed and are being assisted by specialist officers.

"The driver of the Mercedes van, a man in his 30s, was given treatment on scene before being taken to Heartlands Hospital with suspected back pain and hand injury."

Warwickshire Police Inspector Gary Bridgewater said: "This was obviously a very sad incident and the road closures are now being slowly removed while investigations take place.

"I know this is causing long delays for a great many motorists, so I'd like to thank everyone for their patience.

"A thorough investigation continues today into the circumstances surrounding the death and, as such, we would appeal for anyone who was travelling along that stretch of motorway at the time to come forward."