Two people from West Yorkshire have been arrested following a fatal collision on the M61 in Lancashire.

The collision occurred at around 10.45pm last night (Saturday), when a Vauxhall Corsa collided with a Nissan Qashqai around a mile from junction eight for Chorley.

A passenger in the car, 12-year-old Sana Patel from Blackburn, sadly died as a result of the collision.

The occupants of the Vauxhall Corsa fled the scene on foot.

Earlier today, police arrested a 23-year-old woman from Mirefield on suspicion of death by dangerous driving. A 28-year-old man from Dewsbury was later on suspicion of death by dangerous driving and failing to stop at the scene of an accident. Both remain in custody.

Police are still appealing for anybody who saw the crash to get in touch as soon as possible. Officers are also urging anybody who was in the Corsa at the time of the collision to make contact with them.

Det Supt Andy Cribbin, of Lancashire Police: “This was a tragic incident in which 12-year-old Sana Patel lost her life and our thoughts are very much with her family and friends at his unimaginably difficult time.

“We have now made two arrests but are very much still trying to establish what happened and are asking anybody who saw the collision or either vehicle in the moments before it happened to get in touch as soon as possible.

“We would also like to speak to anyone who was in the Corsa at the time and would urge them to make contact with us.”

Anyone with information is asked to get in touch on 101, quoting log number 1817 of July 6th.

The M61 was closed in both directions between junctions six and eight while collision investigators attended the scene and reopened at around 9am this morning.