Two die as car hits lorry in lay-by

Two people died as their car suffered "massive" damage when it crashed into the back of a lorry in a lay-by, emergency services said today.

Both victims were pronounced dead at the scene of the accident on the A500 near Hanchurch, Stoke-on-Trent, at about 11pm yesterday.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said it was raining heavily at the time of the crash, which happened on a section of dual carriageway.

The spokesman said: "When crews arrived, they found a car that had collided with the back of a lorry that was in a lay-by.

"The car had suffered massive damage and ambulance staff worked with firefighters to gain access to the car.

"Unfortunately, it very quickly became clear that there was nothing that could be done to save the man and woman inside and they were confirmed dead at the scene."