Boy, 8, dies in tanker collision

An eight-year-old boy has died in a motorway collision between a car and a tanker carrying liquid nitrogen.

The boy, from Salisbury, Wiltshire, was the front seat passenger in a red Renault Clio being driven by his father at the time of the collision on the M271 at Southampton.

The Clio collided with the rear of the tanker at around 1154 BST on Wednesday before coming to rest in the central reservation.

The boy's father, who was trapped for a short time, was taken to Southampton General Hospital for treatment to minor injuries.

"Absolute tragedy"

The impact of the crash at the Nursling interchange was not enough to penetrate the outer shell of the fully-laden tanker.

Lyndhurst traffic Sergeant Graham Skinner said: "This collision is an absolute tragedy for the family concerned.

"We need to find out what caused it. I appeal to anyone, especially drivers or passengers who were southbound at the time of the crash, to contact traffic police.

"We also know that a lorry driver stopped and tried to free the Renault occupants by using a crowbar.

"We need that lorry driver to contact the police."