Man dies in wrong-way M6 crash, motorway closed southbound

A fatal collision occurred on the southbound M6 near Charnock Richard services, involving a Vauxhall Astra traveling the wrong way and a Toyota Corolla. The driver of the Astra, a man in his 50s, was pronounced dead at the scene, while the driver and passenger of the Corolla, both men in their 40s, were hospitalized with serious injuries. Lancashire Police confirmed the Astra was traveling against traffic and are conducting an ongoing investigation, appealing for witnesses and dashcam footage, particularly from an earlier damage-only crash on Blackpool Road in Preston. The incident caused significant traffic disruptions, with the motorway closed between junctions 27 and 28 and long delays on both southbound and northbound routes. Authorities have urged the public to avoid speculation while the Serious Collision Investigation Unit carries out inquiries. They emphasize the human impact of the crash and request cooperation from those with any relevant information.