Police are investigating a serious road traffic collision which occurred on the A66 near Embleton.
Just after 4pm on Saturday 29 December a silver Nissan Note travelling towards Cockermouth was in collision with a blue Volkswagen Golf travelling in the opposite direction.
A Cumbria Police spokesman said: “The driver of the Nissan, a 74-year-old man from West Cumbria was pronounced dead at the scene.
“Four passengers from the Nissan, who were all from the same family sustained serious injuries, two were flown to the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle where they remain in a serious but stable condition, two were taken to the Cumberland Infirmary in Carlisle where they are being treated for serious injuries.
“The driver of the Volkswagen, a local woman was taken to the Cumberland Infirmary but was later discharged with minor injuries.
“A search and rescue helicopter landed at the scene to assist with the extraction of the casualties.”
A Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said: “At 4:10pm on, three fire engines from Cockermouth, Keswick and Workington attended a serious road traffic collision on the A66 at Embleton, Cockermouth.
“The incident involved two vehicles with a total of six casualties involved.
“Crews used hydraulic rescue equipment and small tools to release those trapped.
“Crews were in attendance for approximately two hours and fifty minutes.”
The road was closed for five hours to allow emergency services to deal with the scene.
Any witnesses to the collision are asked to contact Cumbria Police on 101 quoting log 169 of 29 December.