Three still under arrest over fatal car crash

Police today said no further action would be taken against a 15-year-old girl and a 19-year-old woman who were arrested in connection with a car crash in which two women died.

Another 15-year-old girl and two 22-year-old men remained under arrest after the stolen Mercedes they were travelling in crashed as it was being followed by police near Bradford, West Yorkshire.

Janet Herd and Linda Tansley, both 48 and from Eccleshill, Bradford, were killed when the Ford Fiesta they were in was struck by the Mercedes at around 11.15pm on Wednesday.

A West Yorkshire Police spokesman said: "Of the occupants of the Mercedes, all of who are from the Leeds area, currently one 15-year-old girl remains in hospital under arrest and no further action will be taken against the other two girls, aged 15 and 19.

"Two 22-year-old males from the Mercedes remain under arrest and are being questioned this morning."

Police said inquiries continued today into the crash, which happened near the junction of Apperley Road and Harrogate Road, close to the Stansfield Arms pub, in the Apperley Bridge area.

The stolen red Mercedes CLK 200 was spotted by a police officer near Harrogate Road in Bradford and followed in a patrol car for around 75 seconds before the collision.

Witnesses said the police car was 50 to 100 yards, or three to four seconds, behind the Mercedes at the time of the crash.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) launched an investigation but later said it would be taking no further action.

The five people from the Mercedes were taken to hospital for treatment to non-life-threatening injuries and all were arrested in connection with the crash.

Detective Superintendent Dave Pervin, of West Yorkshire Police, said: "Due to the time of night and location of the collision it is likely this incident will have been witnessed and we would like to speak to anyone who saw the incident or the red Mercedes shortly before the collision occurred."