Five dead, including three children, after stolen car crashes into tree

Five people, including three children, were killed when a stolen car collided with a tree.

Three boys – one 12 and two aged 15 – and two men aged 24 and 28, died after a Renault Clio crashed into a tree in the Meanwood area of Leeds just before 10pm Saturday night, leaving what police described as a scene of “complete carnage”.

Two of the five males were pronounced dead at the scene and three died a short time later at hospital, West Yorkshire Police said. Their families have been informed.

Two more 15-year-olds were arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and remain in custody, the force said.

A police spokesman said officers were confronted by “complete carnage” when they arrived at the scene.

He said 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.

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“Whether they were all in the car or whether some of [the victims] were pedestrians we can’t say at this point in time,” the spokesman said.

“We’ve got the road closed, an investigation in place and we’re trying to find out what’s occurred.”

The crash, which involved only a Renault Clio, happened at 9.54pm on Stonegate Road.

The car had been removed from the street on Sunday but a quarter-mile section of the road remained cordoned off.

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 of what happened.

“I would like to take this opportunity to ask anyone who saw what happened or has information about it to call us on 101 quoting log 1859 of Saturday 26 November.”

People living in streets around the crash scene said all they knew of the incident was hearing a loud bang followed by sirens.