Police shared a tragic update on a horror car crash on a rural UK road – the 17-year-old driver was sadly pronounced dead as four other teens were taken to hospital
A horror road collision involving five teenagers has tragically left a 17-year-old boy dead.
The blue Vauxhall Corsa was involved in a single vehicle collision on Monday night in a rural part of Lancashire. The fatal crash happened on Jackson Heights Road which links Darwen and Haslingden via Pickup Bank – a tiny hamlet – which is often used as a shortcut by motorists.
A huge emergency response was launched as police, paramedics and firefighters rushed to the scene at 8.39pm on Monday night. The male driver was sadly pronounced dead at the scene and four teenage passengers suffered minor injuries.
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Police said the car crashed after it left the carriageway and ended up in an embankment. They added that the 17-year-old driver was found unresponsive at the wheel and the four other teens were rushed to hospital with non life-threatening injuries, according to LancsLive.
Blackburn with Darwen Police said: “We’ve got some sad news to bring you. You might have heard about a road closure in Belthorn last night and we want to explain why that happened.
We were called to Jackson Heights Road, Belthorn, at 8.39pm yesterday to a report of a single vehicle collision involving a blue Vauxhall Corsa.
“Our officers attended and found that the Corsa which had been travelling south on Jackson Heights Road, had left the carriageway before coming to rest down an embankment.
“Tragically, the driver of the car, a 17-year-old boy, was found unresponsive in the vehicle and was pronounced deceased at the scene. Our thoughts are very much with his family and loved ones at this distressing time, and they are being supported by specially trained family liaison officers.
“Four other teenagers suffered injuries which thankfully were not life-threatening, and they were taken to hospital for treatment.
“As our officers investigate how the collision happened, we are appealing for any witnesses to come forward and for anyone driving in the area around the time the collision who have dash cam footage, to get in contact.”
A local woman from Hoddlesden, who regularly drives through Pickup Bank, described seeing the blue lights of emergency service vehicles at the scene from her home. “It was like the illuminations,” she said.
The woman added that last night’s crash is the latest in a string of collisions in the area. “It terrifies me,” she told previously LancsLive in March. “The crash this week is just one of many.”
On March 19 this year a driver was lucky to escape with minor injuries when their car crashed and also ended up in a ditch.
Anyone with information has been asked to contact 101 – quoting log 1329 of September 22 – or email the Serious Collision Investigation Unit at [email protected].