LATEST: Two deaths in serious M1 motorway collision near Sheffield

Two people have died in an M1 motorway collision near Sheffield this afternoon.

The motorway had been closed northbound between Junction 33 (Rotherham) and Junction 34 (Meadohwall) at about 2pm after the collision.

The road was closed while the air ambulance landed.

A South Yorkshire Police statement said: “A man and a woman have died following a collision on the M1 today.

“Emergency services were called at around 1.55pm today (Thursday 2 July) following reports of a serious single-car collision on the M1 northbound carriageway between junctions 33 and 34.

“The driver, a 76-year-old man and passenger, a 77-year-old woman, sadly died at the scene.

“The motorway was closed in both directions as South Yorkshire Police, South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue, the Yorkshire Ambulance Service, the Yorkshire Air Ambulance and the Highways Agency responded to the incident.

“The relatives have been informed.”

Yesterday, a huge lorry blaze closed the M1 near Chesterfield: Dramatic pictures of lorry blaze