Spaghetti Junction crash: Man killed in horror m-way smash as two arrested

A man has died and two others have been arrested following a horrific pile-up near the country's busiest motorway junction. Three cars collided in the early hours on the A38(M) Aston Expressway in Birmingham, near where it meets the M6 and local roads - known as Spaghetti Junction. No traffic was allowed in or out of the city centre along the motorway until approximately 1pm, around 12 hours after the smash.

West Midlands Police have now confirmed a man has died following injuries sustained in the collision. Two people left the scene before officers arrived, and they were traced to an area away from the crash The two men, aged 27 and 24, were arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and remain in police custody. Photos from the scene capture the empty A38(M) closed off between J6 of the M6 Spaghetti Junction and Dartmouth Circus, central Birmingham.

Other pictures show the crumbled state of the vehicles some hours after the impact.

Detective Sergeant Paul Hughes from the Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said: "Sadly we are dealing with a very serious collision and working with partner agencies to establish what caused this collision to happen. "Our thoughts are with the family of the man that has sadly passed away. The road has now been re-opened and I would like to thank everyone for their patience with the closures as we gathered evidence and made the road safe.

"I would ask anyone who witnessed the collision or has dash cam and hasn't yet spoken with us to come forward with any information you have, no matter how small." Police are reviewing CCTV and dashcam footage as they continue their probe. The motorway, one of the shortest in the UK at just two miles, connects central Birmingham with the M6 and the Gravelly Hill and Erdington neighbourhoods of the city. As its name suggests, it bypasses the Aston area and forms part of the much longer A38 route.

Alternative routes into the city, including the A34 through Perry Barr and Newtown, were busy due to road closure today, as was the M6 itself through the West Midlands.