Police probe second triple death crash

The three teenagers—Michael Thomas Gallagher (16), from Warmsworth, Thomas Ryan Hughes (15), from Bessacarr and Antonia Phillippa Browne (14), from Balby— suffered multiple injuries in a high-speed smash when the car ploughed into a tree and was torn in two.

The accident happened at 4.30am on Sunday on the A630 just outside Conisbrough, close to a landmark water tower.

Paramedics battled to save the youngsters as firefighters cut them all free from the mangled wreckage.

South Yorkshire Fire Service said all three teenagers had to be extracted using hydraulic cutting gear from the technical rescue unit from Dearne station.

Two of the teenagers died at the scene and a third in Doncaster Royal Infirmary.

The tragedy comes a month after a crash in Mexborough four miles away claimed the lives of three teenagers.

Chief Supt Keith Lumley, head of specialist operations, said it was believed the crash happened after the driver took a family member’s car without their knowledge.

The car was travelling back towards Warmsworth when it ran out of control after a sweeping bend.

Skid marks appeared to show it had drifted sideways before hitting a mature sycamore tree, he added.

He said: “None of the occupants were of a legal age to drive. There had been no reports of a missing car and when we broke the news to the families it was the first they knew of anything untoward.”

Police would like to hear from anyone who may have seen the vehicle in the Conisbrough or Doncaster areas prior to the crash.

Any owners of private businesses with CCTV on the A630 who may have picked up footage of the car coming from Conisbrough is also asked to ring the accident witness helpline on 0114 220 2970.