AN horrific crash on the M6 has left one man dead and another fighting for his life.


A car 'veered off' the motorway, fatally injuring a Highways England officer and leaving his colleague with 'multiple serious injuries', police say.


The two men involved were already helping with another car crash on what turned out to be a day of carnage on one of the region's busiest roads.

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Paul Holroyd, 51, from Kirkby Stephen, remains 'in a critical but stable condition' after being airlifted to a specialist major trauma hospital following the incident, which took place between J37 and J38 on Sunday.


A spokesperson for the Great North Air Ambulance Service confirmed that Mr Holroyd, who also works at the Takoda Camping site in the town, had to be anaesthetised at the scene after suffering 'multiple serious injuries' to his back, chest, pelvis and legs.


It is understood that he underwent an operation at the James Cook Hospital, Middlesbrough, on Tuesday.


Tragically, his colleague, Adam Gibb, from Penrith, also 51, was pronounced dead at the scene.


The Gazette can reveal that Cumbria Police were initially called at 9.38am to reports of a two vehicle collision on the M6 southbound.


The vehicles involved in the crash were a black Mercedes, driven by a 53-year-old male from Orkney, and a silver Citroen, driven by a 55-year-old female from Bainbridge, North Yorkshire.


Both drivers suffered minor injuries and were treated at the scene by ambulance crews but it has emerged that it was actually the army who were first on the scene.


Regular and reserve soldiers from Merseyside-based 33 Signal Squadron were travelling on the M6 southbound at the time from the Warcop Training Area near Appleby.


They witnessed the aftermath of the crash and seven soldiers used the traffic cones they had with them to direct oncoming vehicles around the two affected lanes.

According to an army statement: "They were also able to assess and support the three people who had been travelling in the damaged vehicles until emergency services arrived."


The incident was then handed over to the Highways Agency but, shortly after midday, disaster struck.


Both vehicles were on the hard shoulder, with one already loaded onto a recovery truck, when a black Mercedes, driven by a 35-year-old man from Manchester, 'veered off' the carriageway and was in collision with Mr Gibb and Mr Holroyd, police say.


A rapid response ambulance, paramedics and two air ambulances were immediately dispatched to the scene and Mr Holroyd, after being anaesthetised on the roadside, was airlifted to hospital inside 17 minutes.


No arrests have been made in connection with the incident, although police have confirmed there is 'an ongoing investigation'.


The Gazette spoke to the boss of the mechanic who was in the recovery vehicle, owned by Furness Cars, when the Mercedes struck the officers.


Gary Grieve, company director of the Askham-in-Furness-based company, said his employee was 'very shaken-up' but unhurt.


Mr Grieve said: "We were recovering two vehicles when a third vehicle came along and collided with the highways officers, hitting the rear of our recovery truck and careering back into the carriageway.


"In our line of work we are often in dangerous conditions by the side of the road but this is exceptional.


"The risks are always higher on the motorway and bad weather didn't help.
"Our thoughts are with both the officers and their families."


The family of Mr Gibb have paid tribute to him, saying that he was a 'fantastic dad' and a 'wonderful husband'.


"Adam was a fantastic dad and a wonderful husband and will be deeply missed," the family statement reads.


"He enjoyed mountain biking, fell running and walking on the fells with our dogs. 


"Adam loved his job and really enjoyed being part of the team there."


Mr Holroyd's family did not wish to comment at this time.


A sizeable stretch of the M6 was closed for more than nine hours in both directions and traffic tailed back as far as junction 40 northbound and junction 34 southbound - a distance of more than 40 miles.

Traffic was diverted through Kendal and roads through town were extremely busy. 


Witnesses are still being sought and anybody who saw the incident is urged to contact Cumbria Police on 101.