Shropshire Star

Road collision leaves two dead, two critical and five others injured

The two 17-year-olds who died were passengers in a Volkswagen Bora which was in collision with a Ford Focus near Thirsk.

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Two youths pass flowers at the scene on the A61 near Thirsk in North Yorkshire where two teenagers died and two children are among seven injured after a crash (Owen Humphreys/PA)

Two boys have died in a two-car crash on a country road which left two other teenagers in a critical condition and five other people injured.

The two 17-year-olds who died in the collision on the A61 in North Yorkshire have been named locally as Mason Pearson and George Turner, both from Thirsk.

North Yorkshire Police said two other teenagers remain in a critical condition in hospitals in Middlesbrough and Leeds. And officers said two younger children were among a total of seven people injured in the crash.

The force said a total of seven land ambulances and an air ambulance were called to the scene on Wednesday night as well as a second helicopter from the coastguard.

A spokesman said the teenagers who died were rear seat passengers in a green Volkswagen Bora which was in collision with a black Ford Focus heading in the opposite direction towards Thirsk.

Another two passengers in the same vehicle, an 18-year-old man and a 17-year-old boy, are in a critical condition at James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough and Leeds General infirmary respectively.

The driver of the Bora, a 22-year-old man, is receiving treatment at James Cook University Hospital for non-life-threatening injuries, the spokesman said.

He said the driver of Focus, a 27-year-old man from outside the area, was discharged from the same hospital following treatment.
A passenger in that car, a 24-year-old woman, is still receiving treatment at the hospital.

A three-year-old girl and a six-month old boy have also been kept in hospital for observations as a precaution, the spokesman said.

The spokesman said: “Officers are continuing to appeal for people to come forward to assist the investigation, including witnesses to the actual collision, anyone who recalls seeing any of the vehicles involved prior to the incident, and anyone who may have dash-cam footage that could help with inquiries.”

Mason and George are understood to have been sports fans.

Thirsk Cricket Club said on Twitter that its members were “deeply saddened to hear about the passing of club member George Turner, the thoughts of everyone at TCC is with his family and friends in this difficult time.”

Mason is reported to have been a huge fan of Middlesbrough FC.

Flowers at the scene on the A61 near Thirsk (Owen Humphreys/PA)
Flowers at the scene on the A61 near Thirsk (Owen Humphreys/PA)

One said: “Love you both lads forever in my thoughts. Brothers for life – GT and Mason.”

The crash happened on the A61 between Busby Stoop and Carlton Miniott near Thirsk at around 9.25pm.

A stretch of the road was closed while the scene was examined, but North Yorkshire Police said it reopened at 4.45am.

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