A lorry driver and a passenger on a coach have been killed and several others injured in a crash on the southbound section of the M11 motorway.
In the early hours of Saturday morning a lorry and coach were involved in a serious incident on the M11 which saw two people killed.
The driver of the lorry and a passenger on board the coach was killed in the accident while several others were hospitalised.
The motorway was closed for a number of hours in both directions between junction 8, the turn-off for Stansted Airport, and junction 9 at Great Chesterford.
An Essex Police spokesman said police and emergency services were alerted to the crash at 2.20am.
“Several people went to hospital as a precaution. They have been released,” he said.
“There are three people who are getting treatment still in hospital, as far as we know for back injuries, but we are not sure of the severity at the moment.”
The spokesman said the next of kin of the two people killed were being informed.
The ambulance service said 50 passengers were on board the coach when the accident happened between Saffron Walden and Stansted.
“A total of 51 people were involved in the incident, 43 with minor injuries who have been taken to hospitals in Cambridge, Harlow and Chelmsford,” a statement from the service said.
“A further six casualties sustained more serious injuries and have been taken by ambulance to Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridgeshire, Princess Alexandra Hospital in Harlow and Broomfield Hospital in Chelmsford.
“Exact details of their injuries are unknown.”