M1: Woman taken to hospital with serious injuries after crash closes motorway

She was taken to hospital after a Ford Fiesta and a Vauxhall Corsa collided on the southbound carriageway near junction 39 (Wakefield), shortly before 9am.

West Yorkshire Police said it closed the motorway, between junctions 39 and 40 (Dewsbury), for “investigation and recovery work”.

West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service said crews extinguished a fire, which had engulfed one of the vehicles at the scene of the crash, and rescued two people from the other.

The northbound carriageway was reopened shortly before 11am and the southbound carriageway was reopened shortly after 4pm.

The investigation is ongoing and officers are appealing for witnesses and information about the collision.

“Enquiries remain ongoing following a serious collision on the M1 motorway near Wakefield this morning,” a police spokesman said.

“Emergency services were called to the M1 Southbound between junctions 39 and 40 at 8.49am, following a collision between a Ford Fiesta and a Vauxhall Corsa.

“A closure was put in place on the M1 with traffic taken off the motorway at junction 40.

“A woman from one of the cars was seriously injured in the incident and taken by ambulance to hospital for treatment.”