leicester was shaken on Friday after two teenagers died in a crash on the M1 southbound near junction 20, police said. Officers said a blue car travelling on Gilmorton Lane towards Lutterworth left a road bridge and collided with a minibus below at about 1: 35pm ET. The M1 was closed in both directions while emergency crews and forensic specialists worked at the scene, and all roads were reopened early on Saturday.
What police say happened
Leicestershire Police said the blue car is believed to have left the bridge above the motorway before hitting a southbound minibus. The two teenagers in the car were declared dead at the scene. The road closure lasted for about 13 hours while investigators examined the crash site.
The minibus, a white Fiat Ducato, had four people on board. The driver, a man, has since been discharged from hospital, while three women remain in hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Police said the minibus passengers were taken to hospital after the collision.
Leicester crash witnesses urged to come forward
Detectives are asking anyone who saw the crash, or any drivers with dashcam footage from around 1: 30pm ET on Friday, to contact police. Officers are also appealing to people who were driving on Gilmorton Lane or on the M1 in the area of junction 20 in either direction at the time.
Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service and East Midlands Ambulance Service also attended the scene. The force said forensic work was completed before the motorway reopened.
Immediate reaction from emergency services
Police have not released the names of the teenagers or the people in the minibus. The focus now is on gathering witness accounts and any footage that might help establish exactly how the blue car left the bridge and reached the carriageway below.
For families and motorists caught up in the crash, the scale of the response underlined how serious the collision was. The reopening of the motorway ended the immediate disruption, but the investigation into what happened on leicester remains active.
Quick context on the M1 closure
The M1 southbound near junction 20 was shut while officers carried out forensic work and cleared the scene. The closure affected both directions, adding to the impact of the collision on one of the region’s busiest routes.
Police are expected to continue reviewing evidence from the scene and any dashcam material submitted by the public. Anyone with information about leicester or the crash near Gilmorton Lane is being asked to help the inquiry move forward.
