TWO people killed in an M62 horror crash are expected to be named today.

The 43-year-old woman and a 46-year-old man – thought to be man and wife – were travelling in an Audi A5 around 6am yesterday morning when they collided with a lorry near Hartshead Moor.

Their car was crushed as the lorry toppled over on them.

The pair, who are believed to be from the Bishop Auckland area of Durham, were killed instantly.

The tragic accident shut the M62 westbound carriageway for almost 12 hours.

Police are still investigating the cause of the horror smash but confirmed the Mercedes HGV had collided with the white Audi while travelling westbound on the M62 near Junction 26 Chain Bar.

The driver of the HGV, a 43-year-old man from North East Lincolnshire was taken to Huddersfield Royal Infirmary by ambulance with minor injuries.

Hundreds of drivers were trapped for hours in the massive traffic jam which built up behind the crash scene, as the lorry blocked all three lanes.

Sgt Garry Alderson, of West Yorkshire Police’s Major Collision Enquiry Team, said: “Clearly this was a very serious incident which has sadly resulted in the deaths of the man and woman travelling in the Audi.

“We have conducted a full collision investigation at the scene given the seriousness of the incident.”

When emergency services arrived at the scene, they discovered the HGV had overturned blocking all three lanes of the carriageway.

Passers-by reported seeing the Audi trapped underneath the lorry with the top of the car crushed by the blue container.

Ambulances, police and the fire crews from Brighouse, Cleckheaton and Bradford were all at the scene.

And a full closure of the carriageway was carried out from the time of the accident at 5.50am to around 5pm.

Sgt Alderson continued: “I would ask anyone who saw the incident or either of the vehicles described, to contact the Major Collision Enquiry Team on 01924 293 047.”

Messages of support spread across Twitter for the families of those killed:

Darren Williams @DazWilliams wrote:

“My thoughts are with the families of the two people from Bishop Auckland killed in the road traffic accident on M62.”

Bing@lauraxmay tweeted:

“RIP to the people who died in an accident on the m62, prayers are with you and your families.”

rochelle@rochelle_m_l posted:

“The people who passed away in the accident today on m62, Bless them awful accident.”

Lynn Greenwood @LynnGWood tweeted:

“Condolences to the families of those affected in the accident on the M62.”