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Vigil held as three children and two adults who died in Leeds horror crash are named

Five people died — including three children — after a stolen Renault Clio hit a tree (Facebook)
Five people died — including three children — after a stolen Renault Clio hit a tree (Facebook)

Three children and two adults who died in a horror crash after a stolen car collided with a tree have been named.

Brothers Ellis and Elliott Thornton, aged 12 and 15; Darnell Harte, 15, Anthoney Armour, 28, and Robbie Meerun, 24 died in the Meanwood area of Leeds.

Police described “complete carnage” after a stolen Renault Clio hit a tree on suburban Stonegate Road.

A vigil was held opposite the tree late on Sunday night. Police said two were pronounced dead at the scene and three died a short time later at hospital.

Two 15-year-old boys are being held in custody on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.

One man who lives close to the crash site said: “It was unbelievable. You couldn’t even recognise it as a car. It was just a crumpled mess.”

His wife said: “There were bodies laid about, it was awful. It was as bad as that. We were just sat here and we just heard an almighty crash.

A vigil was held on Sunday after five died when a stolen car smashed into a tree in a Leeds suburb
A vigil was held on Sunday after five died when a stolen car smashed into a tree in a Leeds suburb
<span class="media-caption__text">Brothers Ellis Thornton, 12, and Elliott, 15, were killed in the crash (Facebook)</span>
Brothers Ellis Thornton, 12, and Elliott, 15, were killed in the crash (Facebook)

“We sat here and thought ‘what the heck was that?’.”

The woman, who did not want to be identified, said it was not possible to tell whether the dead and injured had been in the car or walking along the street at the time.

Another woman said her husband ran up the road and could not believe what little was left of the car.

She said: “It was just a lump of metal that was not recognisable as a car.”

On Sunday, floral tributes to those who died began to accumulate opposite the tree.

Darnell Harte, 15, has been named locally (Facebook)
Darnell Harte, 15, has been named locally (Facebook)
Robbie Meerun, 24, also died in the crash
Robbie Meerun, 24, also died in the crash (Facebook)

One tribute pinned to the flowers read: “Darnell [gone too soon]. It just doesn’t make sense.

“Hope now you’re at some peace. Will remember you for your cheekiness.”

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.

A police spokesman 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.

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

Anthoney Armour, a father of two, died in the crash. His wife is expecting a third child (Facebook)
Anthoney Armour, a father of two, died in the crash. His wife is expecting a third child (Facebook)
Police say it is not clear whether the dead and injured had been in the car or walking along the street at the time
Police say it is not clear whether the dead and injured had been in the car or walking along the street at the time

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.”