One person was killed when a lorry smashed across the central reservation of a motorway, hit oncoming cars and overturned.
Several other people were seriously injured in the disaster on the M6, which led to the motorway being closed, creating long tailbacks.
Emergency services, including the air ambulance and fire crews, hurried to the scene after the accident late on Wednesday morning.
Lancashire Police said an HGV lorry travelling northbound between Preston and Lancaster crossed onto the southbound carriageway of the M6 and collided with a number of other vehicles.
The overturned lorry was left straddling both sides of the central reservation.
Traffic was brought to a standstill between junction 33 at the A6 and junction 32 at the M55, the Broughton interchange.
Police said the road was likely to remain closed “for some considerable time”, warning drivers to check before travelling because diversions were set up.
Preston became gridlocked, according to a local blog, and the closures caused chaos for football fans trying to get there for a game between Sunderland and Preston North End.
One witness told Blog Preston they had seen fuel leaking from the overturned vehicle.
The Lancashire force said they were called at about 11.20am, adding: “Very sadly the collision has resulted in one fatality and a number of other serious injuries. Our thoughts are with all those affected at this time.”
National Highways North West said the expected reopening time for the M6 was 4am-4.30am on Thursday.
