An articulated lorry and a white Peugeot 307 collided, following which the car burst into flames

The incident happened on the northbound carriageway just before 4pm on Wednesday, June 21.

Officers investigating a collision on the M1, approaching junction 8 for Hemel Hempstead, are appealing for information and witnesses.

Two quick-thinking members of the public stopped and rushed to the occupants’ aid, helping them exit the vehicle safely before emergency services arrived at the scene.

As a result only the rear seat passenger, a woman, required hospital treatment for minor injuries. The other two passengers and the driver of the lorry were uninjured.

Damian Schogger‏ @schogblog

East of England Ambulance Service said one person was taken to an urgent care centre and four or five other people were treated for less serious injuries.

Chief Inspector Andy Piper, from the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Roads Policing Unit (RPU), said: “I would publically like to thank these two men for their selfless actions which undoubtedly saved the lives of three people. I am confident that had it not been for their courage and bravery, it is very likely our officers would have been attending an incident in which three people had died.”

Now officers from the RPU are working to establish the circumstances around the collision.

They are appealing for motorists who witnessed the incident and have not already spoken to police to come forward and speak to officers. Perhaps you have dash cam footage that could prove useful to the investigation?

Please contact Hertfordshire Constabulary via the non-emergency number 101, quoting ISR 545 of June 21 or report information online at www.contacthertspolice.uk/Report/Crime.

Alternatively, you can contact the independent crime-fighting charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or through their Anonymous Online Form at www.crimestoppers-uk.org. No personal details are taken, information cannot be traced or recorded and you will never need to go to court.