Arrest after plea on fatal car crash
Men seen fleeing from scene as car set alight in field
A STOLEN car was set on fire and abandoned on a country road.
Police are investigating after the car, believed to be a BMW, was set alight at the side of Renacres Lane, Halsall, on Friday night.
Emergency services were sent to the blaze at around 7.20pm and an investigation is now under way.
One member of the public reported seeing two men setting fire to the car before driving away in another vehicle after being confronted.
Lancashire police confirmed that inquiries were ongoing, but said no arrests had been made.
A spokesman for Lancashire Fire And Rescue Service said: “We sent two fire engines from Ormskirk to a car fire in a field.
“Firefighters used foam and breathing apparatus to extinguish the fire. They were there for an hour.
“No injuries were reported and the police came down to investigate with firefighters at the scene.”
AMAN was arrested one day after police urged anyone with information about a crash which killed two young men to “do the right thing and come forward”.
Police last week issued renewed appeals for help after Conner Stevens, 24, and Luke Peaurt-Moran, 18, died after an Audi S1 crashed into two walls and a telegraph pole on Moss Lane, Burscough, in the early hours of November 20.
The car had been stolen from a property in Ecclestion, near Chorley, along with another car which detectives believe was with the Audi at the time of the crash.
That car, a Fiat 500 Abarth, was later found in Crosby and police appealed directly to the occupants to come forward and give answers to the families of the deceased.
Senior investigating officer Det Ch Iinsp Rebecca Smith said: “What would be the right thing to have done in those circumstances and what would you have expected other people to do if Luke and Conner were your relatives and lost their lives as a result of this collision?
“What I would say is, people have been mentioning that the car is stolen and that the car is from a burglary.
“I would like to point out to people that, at the centre of this investigation, two young men have lost their lives and we need to work together with the communities to try and find the answers for Luke and Conner’s families.
“While I understand providing information and coming forward to us might be difficult because they may fear being in trouble themselves, this is your opportunity.
“You could have stopped at the scene of the accident, you could have offered assistance, you could have rung the emergency services, you chose not to do that, leaving Luke and Conner critically ill inside the vehicle.
“This is your time now. Please do the right thing and come forward and tell us what you know.”
One day later, on Thursday, November 29, police revealed that a Liverpool man was arrested in connection with the case.
The 26-year-old was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving, failing to stop at the scene of a collision and burglary.
Pictures of the scene revealed the damage caused in the crash at a location which is now filled with flowers, messages and mementoes for the two young men.
Walls outside houses along Moss Lane were destroyed by the car, while the pole was knocked to the ground and broken into pieces.
In a statement released through Lancashire police, Conner’s family described him as being “loved by all who knew him”.
They said: “Not an angel, but a kid who would do anybody a good turn.
“He would brighten any room up with his bubbly character and his gorgeous smile. He loved his bikes, partying and being a little rebel showing off.
“He will be dearly missed and always loved.” Det Ch Insp Smith added: “We believe the two vehicles, the white Audi S1 and the red Fiat 500 were both possibly together at the time of the collision.
“I have previously put out a witness appeal for witnesses who may have seen the collision, but what I am appealing for today is directly to the occupants of the Fiat 500 to come forward, do the right thing and search their conscience.”