Youngsters’car‘was speeding’
Two girls who were also in the “speeding” Seat Leon, which only had five seatbelts, were hurt.
One, aged 16, is critical in hospital. The other, 17, and the male Uber driver, 42, have “serious but not life-threatening injuries”.
The Leon was heard accelerating loudly just before it smashed into the taxi, a Seat Alhambra, causing what witnesses called “an explosion”.
One hurt girl was seen crawling from the wreckage after the 2.40am crash, believed to have happened as the six young people travelled from a house party to another venue.
Friends’ cars are thought to have been in front at the time. There is no suggestion the vehicles were racing.
The four dead, all killed instantly, were named as Matty Walshaw and Brandon Frew, both 18, Declan Grove, 19, and Caelan Megson, 21.
More than 20 people later hugged and wept as two women taped flowers to a lamppost at the crash scene on Leeds’s outer ring road at Horsforth. One mother’s tribute read: “To my beautiful son. You were so loved and adored. Rest in peace.”
Another note read: “To Matty, words cannot describe the love I have for you little bro.”
Soon after the crash a woman was seen heading to the spot screaming: “Where is she?”
Resident Steph Callaghan, 31, said: “I heard a screech of tyres and a big explosion of noise. The crash was so bad you couldn’t make out how many cars were involved.” Another, Allan Vickers, 39, said: “A neighbour who is a doctor tried CPR on two people who were dragged out of the car but they were beyond hope.”
Sgt Fiona Hoodless, from West Yorkshire Police’s major collision inquiry team, said: “Early indications are the Leon was travelling at speed.
“We’d like to hear from witnesses, especially anyone with dashcam film that could help our investigation.”