Five die in ‘carnage’ as stolen car hits a tree
THREE children were among five people killed when a stolen car hit a tree, leaving a scene of “complete carnage”, police have said.
A 12-year-old, two 15-year-olds, a 24-year-old and a 28-year-old died after the collision on Stonegate Road in the Meanwood area of Leeds on Saturday night, said West Yorkshire Police.
Two of them were pronounced dead at the scene and three died a short time later at hospital.
All those who died were male, said officers, who confirmed two more 15-year-olds were arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and remain in custody.
Three of the victims have been named locally as brothers Ellis and Elliott Thornton and Darnell Harte, who is thought to be 15.
The crash, which involved only a Renault Clio, happened at 9.54pm.
One of the mothers of the deceased visited the scene of the crash on Sunday afternoon, clearly distressed and did not talk to waiting media.
The vehicle had been removed from the suburban road by midmorning on Sunday but a large gash could still be seen on the tree.
Police had cordoned off a quartermile section of the tree-lined street, which is about three miles north of the city centre and lined by semidetached houses and grass verges.
A police spokesman said officers were confronted by a scene of “complete carnage” when they arrived at the crash site.
He said that just one vehicle had been involved but it was not yet clear whether the five victims and two suspects had all been in the car.
The spokesman said: “Whether they were all in the car or whether some of [the victims] were pedestrians, we can’t say at this point in time.
“We’ve got the road closed, an investigation in place and we’re trying to find out what’s occurred.”
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.”