FIVE people were taken to hospital and the M65 partially closed for around two hours after an accident caused a car to roll over three times.

Motorway police said they were alerted around 2.15pm on Saturday that the M65 Junction 7 eastbound was affected after a car had overturned close to the Accrington and Rishton turn-off.

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It is believed a black Mazda car suffered engine failure and came to a halt in the outside lane.

A red Nissan pick up truck then collided with the car before flipping over several times.

Police closed the eastbound carriageway while the two vehicle accident was dealt with and the road cleared.

Watch manager Lee Garnett, from Blackburn fire service, said: “The fire service attended a road traffic collision involving two cars on the M65 eastbound between junction 7 and 8.

“One of the vehicles had lost speed in the outside lane due to an engine fault and a car behind had collided with it.

“The car at the rear had swerved causing it to topple onto its roof three times.

“Seven people were involved in the accident but luckily they weren’t trapped.

“The fire service assisted police and ambulance and five people were transported to hospital for precautionary checks due to cuts and bruises.”

A motorway police spokesman they had set up an ‘up and over’ road closure to bring traffic off at J7 exit slip and back on at J7 entry slip.

AA advice on motorway break downs, states: “If you do break down on a motorway, pull on to the hard shoulder.

“Make sure you stop as far to the left as you can, with the wheels turned to the left.”

“Put your hazard lights on, exit your vehicle from the near side and move up the bank or stand behind the barrier, if available.

“Do not attempt to repair your vehicle.”