Dramatic six-vehicle pile-up on M6

A couple escaped serious injury as their car was wedged beneath a van in a six-vehicle smash on the M6.

Four people went to hospital after the crash near Cannock yesterday.

Emergency services went to the southbound carriageway near Junction 11a at Great Saredon at about 1pm. The Midlands Air Ambulance from Cosford was initially sent but was stood down as­ land crews confirmed no one had been seriously injured.

Ambulance service spokeswoman Claire Thomas said: "Crews arrived on scene to find three cars and three vans which had been involved in a collision, one car ended up underneath the back of a flat bedded van.

"Fortunately, all occupants were out of their vehicles and on the hard shoulder. Considering the number of vehicles involved it was remarkable that no one suffered more serious injuries." A man and a woman, believed to be in their 50s, suffered neck pains after their car became lodged beneath a van.

Both were immobilised with neck collars and spinal boards before being transferred to Walsall Manor Hospital.

A man in his 70s, was treated on scene and taken to New Cross Hospital, Wolverhampton, as a precaution, and a man, 35, was taken to Stafford Hospital with an elbow injury.

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