FOUR PEOPLE, including three teenagers, have died after being involved in a car crash on a stretch of rural highway notorious for road racing.

The collision took place in the heart of the Brecon Beacons in South Wales as a number of vehicles travelled in a convoy. At least four others suffered injuries following the crash.

Five male drivers, aged 17 and 18, from other vehicles, were arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving, Dyfed Powys Police said. Police have yet to confirm the identities of those arrested.

Police have named one of the victims as Margaret Elizabeth Challis, 68, from nearby Merthyr Tydfil. She was driving a black Volkswagen Golf which collided with a green VW Golf.

Police have confirmed that the two men and one woman killed in the green vehicle were all 17-years-old and from the Barry area.

Mrs Challis is not thought to have been part of the convoy.

The accident happened on the A470 near Storey Arms, Brecon, just before 10.15pm on Friday.

Jason Griffiths, 47, a local businessman, said: “I have heard they were racing over the mountain road – the crash happened at the first straight where you would get a chance to overtake.

“One of the cars seems to have crossed the road and may have hit a dry stone wall opposite. Youngsters do speed in the road – you see them bumper to bumper some times. It is another tragedy – there are always flowers laid on the roadside. Now there will be more.”

Staff and pupils at Ysgol Bro

Margaret Challis, 68, died on the A470 in Brecon, South Wales

Morgannwg comprehensive school in Barry were in shock yesterday. News of the accident came as many were taking part in an arts festival for younger pupils, at which other sixth form students were acting as stewards.

Dylan Jones, the school’s head teacher, confirmed one of those killed was a sixth form pupil at the school. A former male pupil had also died, he said. “We had a junior eisteddfod [arts festival] this morning and some of the sixth form were stewarding the event when news started to come in,” he said last night.

“I have spoken to both parents and we are preparing for Monday so that we can offer all assistance and counselling to the pupils.”

One witness Nigel Shiel, 59, who lives in Brecon, told The Sunday Telegraph: “We saw a couple of parked vehicles in the road with people standing around. Just beyond them we saw the wreckage of what we thought was one car on the right-hand side of the road. But when we got closer there was actually two cars there.

“The engine block of one of the cars had separated from the vehicle and was sat in the middle of the road.

“We saw one of the young lads being pulled out of the vehicles. We don’t know if he was dead.

“Coming down from Storey Arms you have a very sharp right-hand bend. About 200300 yards after the road becomes straighter and that’s where the accident happened. It was almost a straight piece of road.

“I believe there was six or seven vehicles that were travelling together. One of the vehicles parked in front of mine when we arrived. I was talking to the driver and he said that he knew the lads, that they were all up from Barry.

“They couldn’t understand what had happened. They presumed that the first car had stopped and the second car had just run into it. He said they were all friends out together.”

A statement on the school’s website read: “Following a car accident we received some sad news about our pupils. Our thoughts and sympathies are with their families and we wish a speedy recovery to all those who have also been injured in the incident.”

Supt Chris Curtis, of DyfedPowys Police, said: “We are working with South Wales Police in order to provide support to the families affected and also the communities they live within. We will work with partners to ensure that the incident is fully investigated.”

Videos have previously emerged on the internet of drivers hitting speeds of more than 100mph on the route.

The tragedy comes despite a Government campaign to combat motoring fatalities among young people. The new THINK! Drug Drive television advert publicises a crackdown on drivers under the influence of narcotics.