A PUPIL and a staff member from a special school have died following a tragic motorway crash.

The crash between junctions three and four westbound of the M58 near Wigan involved an HGV, a minibus and a number of other vehicles, at about 9am on Tuesday.

The driver of the HGV, a 31-year-old-man from Chorley, has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.

The Daily Mirror newspaper is reporting that the headteacher of Pontville School in Ormskirk had emailed parents to convey the tragic news and pay tribute to the pair.

She wrote: "We are deeply shocked to learn of the terrible accident that took place earlier today involving a minibus carrying a number of our young people and staff.

"It is with the deepest sadness that we can confirm that one young person and one member of staff on board the minibus have died and the remaining four have been taken to hospital.

"Our thoughts and sympathies are with all our families at this very sad time.

"Our overriding priority is to provide help and support to classmates, colleagues and families of those involved in the accident as best we can.

"We will be in school tomorrow with additional therapeutic staff to support your son or daughter."

A second crash happened shortly after the first incident and involved an HGV, a van and a car.

A woman and two men suffered serious injuries.

Images from the scene showed a lorry carrying scaffolding material and a number of bent and twisted cars.

Other images showed a white van had left the motorway and crashed into a nearby field.

Helen Green Purnell, 48, a pharmacy assistant from Skelmersdale, saw the aftermath of the crash while out walking dogs.

She said: "All I can tell you is I saw the cars slowing down, and as I got there, there was a white van that had fallen down in to the ditch.

"It looked very serious. I've never seen anything like it in my life.

"The air ambulances were flying around. I've never witnessed anything like this before."