Four children injured and M1 closed at Sheffield after two police cars crash

TWO vehicles involved in a crash on the M1 in Sheffield which left four children injured were unmarked police cars, it was revealed this afternoon.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission said the South Yorkshire Police cars - a black BMW and a Seat Leon Cupra - were in collision with a Seat Alhambra people carrier on the M1 northbound, near Sheffield.

The commission said the police cars were not involved in a pursuit at the time.

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Police have said there were six vehicles involved in the incident in total, with some hitting the debris from the initial impacts.

Four children and a woman in the Alhambra were taken to local hospitals.

The most seriously hurt was an 11-year-old boy who suffered serious head injuries who was being treated at Leeds General Infirmary.

The IPCC said the woman driver of the Alhambra had a serious arm injury and was undergoing surgery while one of the other children suffered a broken leg and internal injuries.

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The two police drivers had minor injuries, the commission said. South Yorkshire Police said none of those injured were thought to be in a life-threatening condition.

The IPCC has sent investigators to the scene and an independent investigation will be conducted.

IPCC Commissioner Nicholas Long said: "My thoughts are with the injured people and I hope they make a quick and full recovery.

"We will be conducting a rigorous investigation into the circumstances surrounding the collision and our investigators have been on scene securing evidence since the early hours of this morning.

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"I can say that this incident was not the result of a pursuit."

The accident happened at about 12.30am today.

It closed the motorway between junction 33 at Catcliffe and junction 34 at Meadowhall.

Later, a second accident at junction 33 at 7am left one person dead.

The person who died has not been named and police are expected to release more details later.

The two accidents are not thought to be linked.

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A South Yorkshire Police spokeswoman said: "One accident happened in the early hours and one happened at 7am this morning.

"We could not say if they are connected until a collision investigation has taken place but at this point we don't think so."

The two incidents have caused widespread traffic disruption on the motorway network in South Yorkshire.