A BLACKBURN man has died in hospital after he was hit by a car while standing behind a safety barrier on the M6.

Police were called around 3pm on Wednesday January 16 after reports of several collisions close to junction 35, the turn-off for Carnforth.

A BMW travelling north had hit the central barrier. The 34-year-old driver got out of the vehicle and crossed the carriageway, standing behind a barrier on the hard shoulder.

He was then hit by a Skoda Octavia. The man suffered a serious head injury, fractures to the upper body and internal injuries and was taken by air ambulance to Royal Preston Hospital but died of his injuries on Sunday.

The driver of the Skoda, a 41-year-old man from Edinburgh, was not injured.

Eight other vehicles were also involved in collisions around the time of the incident on the northbound carriageway.

A second collision, involving five vehicles on the southbound carriageway, took place around 3pm.

No serious injuries were reported and the road re-opened a short time later.

The M6 was closed northbound for six hours while accident investigators attended the scene and vehicles were recovered.

Police are continuing to appeal for information and are asking drivers for any dashboard mounted camera footage of the crashes.

Sgt Steve Hardman, of Lancashire Police, said: “These are very tragic circumstances and my thoughts, and those of my team, are with the gentleman’s family and friends at this incredibly distressing time.

“We continue to investigate and ask that anyone with information comes forward.

"We understand there were exceptional weather conditions during the time of the collisions and would ask anyone with dashcam footage to come forward.

“Furthermore, if you helped to move any of the vehicles involved to the hard shoulder before police arrived, please get in touch.”

Anyone with information can contact police on 101 or email 2385@lancashire.pnn.police.uk quoting log 0843 of January 16