Police were called around 9.55pm yesterday (Sunday, November 11), following reports of an accident close to Junction 31a.

An Audi A4 car travelling northbound had been involved in a collision with a Vauxhall Vectra car. The Vauxhall then collided with a Volkswagen Transporter, which in turn collided with a Citroen CX Athena.

Emergency services attended and the driver of the Vauxhall, a 58-year-old woman from Lancaster, was sadly pronounced dead at the scene.

A passenger in the Vauxhall, a 57-year-old man from Lancaster, was taken to Royal Preston Hospital, but sadly died a short time later.

The occupants of the Audi made off from the scene and were later arrested by police in connection with the incident.

The driver of the Volkswagen, a 47-year-old man from Ulverston and the driver of the Citroen, a 70-year-old man from Galgate, were not injured.

The road was closed for more than six hours while accident investigators attended the scene.

Police are appealing for information following the collision and urging any witnesses to come forward.

Sgt David Hurst, of Lancashire Police, said: “These are tragic circumstances and my thoughts are very much with the man and woman involved at this sad time.

“We are appealing for information following the collision and if you saw what happened and have yet to speak to police, please come forward.

“Anyone with information can contact police on 101 quoting log reference 1407 of November 11.”

Two men aged 22 and 24, both from Wakefield, a 21-year-old woman from Abergavenny and a 24-year-old man from Ossett, West Yorkshire, have been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and are in custody.

An 18-year-old woman was initially arrested by police but has since been taken to hospital having suffered a broken arm.