The A30 claimed two lives yesterday in separates crashes.

The first took place at around 5.50am, when a 38-man was killed just outside Launceston.

Police say he was believed to have been standing on the eastbound carriageway when he was involved in a collision with three vehicles. He was pronounced dead at the scene; formal identification has yet to take place.

A 50-year-old man driving a white Peugeot Boxer van, registered to St Columb Major, was arrested at the scene on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and interviewed by police. He has been released on police bail until March 12.

The two other vehicles involved were a blue Peugeot 106, registered to Launceston, and a white Mercedes Sprinter van registered to Newton Abbot.

The female driver of the Peugeot 106 and both male van drivers were treated by paramedics at the scene for shock.

The collision affected both carriageways and they were both closed for a number of hours while officers from the Serious Collisions Investigation Unit and a recovery team worked at the scene, before a thorough investigation took place.

Enquiries continue into the circumstances of the collision.

The westbound carriageway was reopened at around 1pm and the eastbound carriageway reopened at around 6.15pm.

Sergeant Jane Corkhill, from the Serious Collisions Investigation Unit in Plymouth, said: “This was a very challenging and horrific scene for everyone involved.

“Officers and staff dealing with the collision have been working in incredibly difficult circumstances and have been offered support for dealing with the upsetting nature of this incident.”

Anyone who saw the collision is asked to call police on 101 quoting log 218 of 22/12/13.

Before this section of the road reopened, however, a second fatal collision occurred further west, involving multiple collisions.

Six vehicles were involved in total, with collisions on both carriageways near Bolventor, a few miles east of Bodmin, shortly after midday.

Three vehicles collided on the eastbound carriageway and the driver of one of them was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police officers are in the process of identifying the next of kin and formal identification has yet to take place.

Two occupants of another vehicle travelling eastbound were taken by air ambulance to Derriford Hospital in Plymouth and the extent of their injuries is not yet known.

Another three vehicles collided on the westbound carriageway but there were no injuries as a result.

Officers from the Serious Collisions Investigation Unit and Scenes of Crime attended to carry out an investigation.

The Highways Agency put diversions in place to ensure traffic could keep moving locally but delays were experienced due to the earlier collision near Launceston.

The central reservation was damaged and had to be repaired by the Highways Agency before the road was safe to be reopened.

No-one has been arrested in connection with this collision.

Sergeant Olly Tayler, Senior Investigating Officer, said: “Both carriageways were closed due to the serious nature of the collision and the horrendous weather conditions.

“We understand it has caused some disruption for motorists, particularly as it is a busy weekend prior to Christmas.

“Please be reassured officers and the other emergency services have been working as quickly as possible in these very difficult circumstances.

“The investigation into what caused the collision continues but one line of enquiry is that there was an unexpected exceptional weather event that happened at the time of the collisions in the form of a hail storm.

“Motorists are reminded to drive according to the conditions they are faced with on the roads, particularly with the weather forecast over the next few days.”

Anyone who witnessed the collision is asked to call police on 101 quoting log 384 of 22/12/13.