Joyrider carnage
Brothers 12 and 14 among five killed after suspected stolen car smashed into tree, as two 15-year-olds arrested over crash
FIVE people, including three boys, were killed when a suspected stolen car smashed into a tree leaving a scene of ‘complete carnage’.
Two 15-year-olds were arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and remained in custody last night.
Residents reported hearing a loud bang ‘like a firecracker’ and seeing the car ‘completely squashed’ after the collision.
Brothers Ellis and Elliott Kimmitt, aged 12 and 14, were named by a relative who described them as ‘cheeky chappies’ and said their deaths had left ‘a huge void’.
A third teenager, Darnell Harte, 15, was named locally.
Social media named Anthoney Armour, 28, and Robbie Meerun, 24, as the other two victims of the collision on a tree-lined street in Leeds on Saturday night. Mr Armour was a father-of-two whose partner was expecting another child in three weeks.
West Yorkshire Police initially said they believed all seven men and boys had been in the car, a Renault Clio. But a force spokesman later said they could not rule out if some may have been pedestrians.
Yesterday the Kimmitt brothers’ aunt Louise Thornton said there were no words to describe the loss of the two boys.
The 34-year-old said: ‘Elliott was the eldest. He was very loving and very trusting. He was so proud of his family, his mum and dad and his two sisters, Ebony, 16, and Bronte, five. Ellis looked up to Elliott and Ebony as well.
She added: ‘We are just devastated. We can’t believe they have both gone. We were so proud of the boys. They will be hugely missed by the family. It will leave a huge devastating void.’
Writing on Facebook, Ebony said: ‘Today my mum had to say goodbye to my brothers who she gave birth to 14 and 12 years ago.
‘My head and my body is full of pain right now. You were my boys!!! My world and more. I wish I told you I love you everyday, I wish I didn’t shout, argue and fight with you ... I wish you were here.’
Posting on Facebook, Sarah Louise Priestley – believed to be Mr Armour’s partner – described him as ‘my world and more’. The carer wrote: ‘Why did you have to go? Me and [the] kids love you more than you will ever know.’
Following the crash at 9.54pm in the city’s Meanwood area, two of the victims were pronounced dead at the scene, with the other three later dying in hospital. It was last night unclear if the arrested teenagers were injured in the collision.
A police spokesman said officers were confronted by a scene of ‘complete carnage’ when they arrived. He said that just one vehicle was involved, but said of the five victims and two suspects: ‘Whether they were all in the car or whether some were pedestrians we can’t say at this point.’
A couple who live opposite the crash site said the car was ‘just a crumpled mess’, adding: ‘There were bodies laid about, it was awful ... horrendous.’ Another local said: ‘It was a lump of metal that was not recognisable as a car.’
The cordon around the crash scene was partially lifted yesterday evening as relatives, including the mother of one of those killed, arrived to leave tributes. A message on one bouquet read: ‘Darnell (gone too soon) ... Will remember you for your cheekiness. RIP’.
A growing number of tributes were also posted on social media.
One young woman wrote: ‘RIP Darnell, gone but never forgotten, my baby brother always.’
Last night Detective Chief Inspector Jim Griffiths, who is leading the investigation, said: ‘This is clearly a tragic incident in which five young people have lost their lives. We are currently investigating the exact circumstances.’
‘I’m full of pain. You were my boys!’