Wrong-way driver kills four on M6

Five men were killed and 16 people injured during a weekend of carnage on West Midland roads over the bank holiday.

See also: Wrong way M6 crash horror - in pictures

Three passengers in a Peugeot 406 car died when a Ford Fusion that had been travelling the wrong way along the M6 smashed into them.

Today, the busy A449 in Penkridge was closed for three hours after a car overturned, injuring two people, and a man died after being hit by a car in Birmingham.

The tragedy on the M6 happened at 5.50am yesterday, on the southbound carriageway at Junction 8 at the link with the M5.

The passengers in the Peugeot were killed instantly and their driver taken to Sandwell General Hospital with serious injuries.

The lone driver of the Ford Fusion also died at the scene.

Police shut the motorway between Junction 8 and Junction 7 for Great Barr in both directions for seven hours while investigations were carried out.

Motorists travelling south were diverted along the M5, while those heading north had to follow the A34 at Great Barr.

It lead to congestion throughout Walsall and Wednesbury, particularly around the A461 as drivers struggled to get onto the motorway at Junction 9.

Roads around West Bromwich close to Junction 1 of the M5 were also snarled up.

Officers are tracing the movements of the lone driver to discover how he ended up heading the wrong way.

Chief Inspector of West Midlands Central Motorway Police Bal Sidhu said: "This is a horrific collision.

"We don't know the reasons why the driver of the Fusion drove the wrong way down the motorway."

The victims are aged between 20 and 40 but police said today they would not yet reveal their identities.

Today's crash in Penkridge at 2am forced the closure of the A449 between Boscomoor Lane and the A5 at Gailey for more than three hours.

Two men had to be cut free from their car shortly before 2am.

The Birmingham victim was spotted shortly after 4am today lying in Lynton Road, Aston.

Paramedics also battled to save him but he died at the scene.

On Saturday, drivers were left in queues of 18 miles at their peak after an accident on the M6.

Three cars heading north collided between Junction 12 at Gailey and 13 for Stafford South shortly after midday.

Two people were injured and taken to Stafford Hospital suffering minor injuries.

Yesterday two women in their late teens had to be cut free from a Citroen Saxo after it collided with a Range Rover at the Globe Island in Rugeley just before 2.15pm.

Meanwhile nine people were injured after a bus and a 4x4 crashed in Birmingham. Six were taken to hospital after the accident in Bordesley Green shortly before 2.40pm yesterday.