UK Edition
Eight people have died and a five-year-old girl and three more of her relatives are fighting for their lives in hospital after their minibus was crushed in a horrific collision with two lorries on the M1 near Newport Pagnell.
The driver of one of the HGVs has been arrested on suspicion of drink driving.
He and another driver have also been arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving. Both are currently in police custody.
The collision involving lorries from FedEx and AIM Logistics and a minibus took place shortly before 3.15am on Saturday.
Brett Smith fought to save a young girl trapped in the minibus wreckage, giving her his jacket to keep her warm.
"A family has been destroyed. I held a little girl by her arms, trapped inside a vehicle, for a good hour or so with the emergency services and the fire service trying to help.
"I walked home with a blanket that the ambulance service provided me to stay warm because the little girl has got my jacket to keep herself safe. The fire and ambulances services did a really good job."
She is being treated at Birmingham Children's Hospital.
Five men and two women from the same family were killed.
Along with minibus driver Cyriac Joseph, known as Benny, who ran ABC Travels in Nottingham.
The 52-year-old's cousin Soyamon Joseph, 49, said his "heart was broken" for his "best friend" and said they had enjoyed supper together just hours before the crash.
A child and a man and woman also suffered life threatening injuries and another female relative has serious injuries.
Chief Inspector Henry Parsons, from the Joint Operations Unit for Roads Policing, said: “The scene facing the officers who attended was complex and the recovery operation which followed was challenging. Tragically eight people lost their lives, with four further people seriously injured, and it is our duty to establish the circumstances of what happened.
“Officers are working to inform the next of kin of the people who died and specially-trained family liaison officers will be offering them their support. Some of those involved were visiting the UK from India and we are working to keep families abroad informed.
“This collision was deeply distressing for the members of the public who witnessed it, along with the emergency service workers who attended and displayed high levels of professionalism. Thames Valley Police has highly trained collision investigators who, over the coming weeks and months, will work to determine what caused this tragedy.
“I would like to reiterate it is vitally important that anyone who saw what happened, who has not already spoken to officers, comes forward with information.”
All the deaths were from the group travelling in the minibus, which had travelled from the Nottingham area.
A spokesman for Thames Valley Police said: "All of the deceased were travelling in the minibus. The four taken to hospital were also travelling in the minibus of whom one is a child."
He added: "A 31-year-old man from Worcestershire has been arrested on suspicion of one count of causing death by dangerous driving and one count of driving a motor vehicle when alcohol level above limit.
"Also a 53-year-old from Stoke-on-Trent arrested on suspicion of one count of causing death by dangerous driving. They are both currently in custody."
The southbound carriageway between J15 and J14 is currently closed and is likely to remain closed for a significant amount of time.
Chief Inspector Henry Parsons from the Joint Operations Unit for Roads Policing, said: “Emergency services are continuing to work at the scene and road closures remain in place. We are aware there are a number of large scale events taking place this weekend and this closure is likely to have a significant impact on traffic disruption, so please allow extra time for your journeys.
“I would appeal to anyone who witnessed the collision and has not yet spoken to officers to please contact us."
Ollie Miller, who witnessed the aftermath of the crash, said: "I was driving to the watch the football with my dad when we drove past the two lorries.
"It looked horrible, the two lorries were badly smashed and I could see a vehicle underneath one of the lorries. It was totally destroyed. The minibus was basically flat.
"I feel sorry for all those affected."
A witness told MailOnline: "It's horrific. There is what looks like the remains of the back end of the minibus trapped beneath the FedEx trailer, totally wrecked. There's wreckage along the grass verge and the third lorry is just past the junction.
"It looks like the trailer has become detached as it is at right angles to the cab. There are two big rescues vehicles at the scene using cranes. The road is closed to the previous junction."
Gayle Smith said: "We have just passed this accident, travelling on the Northbound carriageway. The accident looked awful. Thoughts and prayers going out to all victims. Our emergency services doing an amazing job!"
Thousands of motorists have faced gridlock with the road closure.
A spokesman for the South Central Ambulance Service (SCAS) confirmed paramedics were called to the crash on the M1 at 3.12am.
He said: "Our thoughts are with all those involved in the tragic incident on the M1 this morning and their families.
"South Central Ambulance Service sent to the scene, five ambulance crews, a doctor, two team leaders and two ambulance officers who worked alongside colleagues from East Midlands and East of England Ambulance Services to assess and treat a number of casualties.
"Sadly there have been several fatalities. We have treated four patients for serious or life threatening injuries who have been taken to hospitals in Milton Keynes, Coventry and Birmingham.
"We would like to thank all our SCAS staff and colleagues from across the services who worked hard to respond to this difficult situation."
Motorists are advised to avoid the area while emergency services work at the scene.
Ismail Elmagdoub, director of AIM Logistics, said: "One of our vehicles was involved in a serious incident on the M1 southbound, junction 14 this morning at approximately 3am.
"We would like to express our deepest sympathy to the families who have lost loved ones and also those whom have been injured at this very sad time.
"Road safety and compliance is of the utmost importance to AIM Logistics and we are continuing to assist the police as much as possible with their inquiries."