FIVE people have been killed in a horrific head-on collision on one of the area's most notorious roads.
They have not been named, although the Telegraph understands they were a mother, a father, two teenage girls, and a two-year-old from the Durham area.
Two of them were taken to Grimsby's Diana, Princess Of Wales Hospital, where they were pronounced dead on arrival.
The other three died at the scene.
Their turquoise Nissan Primera was in collision with a light goods vehicle on the A18 Barton Street between the Oaklands Hotel and Laceby Manor Golf Club at about 12.30pm yesterday. The driver of the LGV, from Scunthorpe firm New Century Foods, suffered slight injuries.
Five ambulances and three fire engines attended, and the scene was immediately sealed off by investigators.
The road was closed for several hours as police crash investigators looked at the circumstances which led to the horrific crash.
Top police officers were called in to deal with the incident, including superintendent Tracy Bradley who is in charge of Humberside Police Roads Policing Unit.
Chief Superintendent Tony Forbes also attended along with more than a dozen police officers.
Superintendent Bradley described the crash as "a tragedy."
She told a press conference: "We are investigating what caused the incident. We are appealing for any witnesses or anyone who saw either of the vehicles prior to the collision to get in touch."
She added: "It is too early to say what happened. We have our crash investigation team and hope to piece together the circumstances.
"They are all from out of the force area and we believe they are from the Durham area."
She said family liaison officers will be supporting the remaining relatives of those killed.
Later a police spokesman said Humberside Police will discuss the prospects for restrictions on the busy route with North East Lincolnshire Council.
There are about 3,000 vehicles using the road every day and about 400 heavy goods vehicles.
Superintendent Bradley asked any witnesses to contact Humberside Police on the non-emergency number 1010 quoting incident number 246.
ON THE WEB: Updates on this story will appear at www.thisisgrimsby.co.uk over the weekend.
