A PENSIONER remains in a 'serious but stable' condition in hospital following a three-car crash on the M65.

The incident, involving a Nissan, an Audi and a Mazda happened on the eastbound sliproad at the junction eight turn off for Huncoat, Hapton and Padiham at around 9.40pm on Tuesday.

The 79-year-old female driver of the Nissan, who is from Burnley, was taken to Royal Preston Hospital with serious chest injuries. She remained there on Wednesday morning

Police have now launched an appeal for information.

A spokesperson for the police said: "We were called at around 21:40 on Tuesday April 9 to reports of a collision involving three vehicles on the entry slip road at junction eight of the eastbound carriageway of the M65.

"The collision involved a Nissan Note and a stationary Audi A6, which had stopped to assist a broken down Mazda 2. The stationary Audi and the Mazda subsequently collided.

"The Nissan also collided with the central reservation.  

"The drivers of the Audi and Mazda were out of the vehicles at the time of the collision. They were not injured.

"The driver of the Nissan, a 79 year old woman from Burnley, suffered a serious injury to her chest.

"She was taken to Royal Preston Hospital where her condition is described as serious but stable."

Drivers were advised to find alternative routes and those stuck in tailbacks were asked to be patient.

The carriageway was closed for around four hours to facilitate collision investigation and the lanes were reopened at around 2am. 

Sergeant Phil Baxendale of Lancashire’s Road Policing Unit, said: "Our thoughts are with the injured woman at this time.

"We’re working to establish the full circumstances of the collision and would ask that anyone who saw it, or any of vehicles prior to the collision gets in touch."

Anyone with information should call 101 or email 3730@lancashire.pnn.police.uk quoting log number 1609 of April 9.

Police have been called to a number of incidents in the last few months on the M65.

In January a lane was closed after a three-vehicle smash.

This month there were major delays after a crash on the eastbound carriageway.

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In January, officers were called to the slip road at J12 for a serious incident.

In December a lorry crashed into the central reservation causing the road to be closed for several hours.

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