Investigators believe that an elderly man may have been travelling the wrong way down the motorway when he became involved in a crash that killed a three-year-old girl.
Faye Dawson died on Saturday, November 19 after the car she was in collided with a Porsche Boxster near Leyland, Lancashire.
The 79-year-old driver of the sports car was also killed in the collision , LancsLive reports.
The horrifying incident took place at around 5:50pm on the southbound carriageway between junctions 29 and 28 of the M6.
Faye, from Wallasey, Merseyside had been travelling in a Vauxhall Meriva and two other occupants of the vehicle, including her mother, are still in hospital.
Officers investigating the collision think that the Porsche Boxster was travelling in the wrong direction on the carriageway when the crash happened, having entered the motorway at junction 28 via the southbound slip road.
Lancashire Constabulary have appealed for witnesses to the horrific incident, asking anyone who may have dash cam footage of the crash to come forward.
Sgt Craig Booth, of the Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said: “This collision has left both families grieving in a way most of us will never understand.
“On behalf of Lancashire Police and the investigation team I would like them to know our thoughts are with them all, they are being supported by specially trained officers as a result of this traumatic incident.
“I feel I also need to mention all the emergency services who attended who are also trying to come to terms with what happened.”
Faye's devastated family have described her as "loving and caring" in a heartbreaking tribute to the little girl.
A statement read: “Our beautiful Faye Grace, words will never express the heartache we are all going through since you were tragically taken from us. We can’t see the future without you, it has left a massive hole in our lives.
“Everyone says how precious their daughter/granddaughter is but you were an exception, you were such a clever little girl who was very funny and had us all laughing all the time.
“You were so loving and caring and above all very loved by everyone who met you. You’re now at rest with your great nanny, great grandad and Uncle Jimmy. Words won’t justify how much we are all going to miss you and how much we all love you.
They also commended her "brave" mum, adding: “Your mummy is being so brave and she will continue to make you proud. You were too little to be taken away from us, but we know the angels will look after you and they’re lucky to have you dancing in the sky with them.
“We are all so heartbroken that you were taken far too young but we are so glad that we got to have you for the time we did. RIP baby girl, we are all missing you and will carry on forever. All our love.”
