A 15-year-old girl died in hospital following a “devastating” motorway collision in south-west Scotland, authorities said. 

The teenager’s family are members of Manchester’s Jewish community.

The incident took place at Junction 20 on the M74 near Annan at around 4.45pm on Wednesday, Police Scotland said. 

A red Ford Transit Tourneo minibus with six passengers and a 45-year-old male driver collided with a white lorry and hit the central reservation.

The minibus driver was taken to the Cumberland Infirmary in Carlisle and treated for minor injuries, as were two boys aged seven and 12 and a young toddler.

A 15-year-old girl was taken by ambulance to the same hospital and later died.

A 17-year-old boy and a 42-year-old woman were in critical condition after being airlifted to hospitals in Newcastle and Middlesbrough.

A stretch of the motorway was closed for 12 hours while police investigated. 

Sergeant Jonny Edgars said specialist officers were supporting the family involved in the “devastating incident.”

He said the force’s “thoughts and condolences” were with them.

“An investigation is underway to establish the full circumstances surrounding the crash and it is important we speak to anyone who was on the road at the time, and may have witnessed what happened or observed the minibus beforehand.

“We would also urge any motorists with dash-cams who were travelling on the M74 on Wednesday afternoon to please check their footage in case they have captured anything which could be of significance to our enquiries,” he said. 

Anyone with information is asked to contact 101 with the reference 2612.