Five teenagers died after their car crashed in fog in South Yorkshire, police have said. The victims were aged 16 and 18 and were students or former students at the same school in Doncaster.
The teenagers, three men including the younger brother of a Leeds United footballer and two women, were in a Toyota Corolla which collided with a Seat Leon at 9.40pm on Saturday on the A630 at Conisbrough, between Doncaster and Rotherham, in a crash described by police as “absolutely horrific”.
Two of the men and one woman died at the scene. The other two were taken to hospital but died from their injuries on Sunday morning.
The male driver of the Seat suffered a broken leg. South Yorkshire police said they believed a third vehicle, a Vauxhall Corsa, may have been involved in the crash.
A 21-year-old man from Doncaster who police believe was driving the Corsa was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and released on bail.
According to reports, police believe the five teenagers had met the Seat driver earlier at a McDonald’s restaurant.
The police named the victims, all from the Doncaster area, as Bartosz Bortniczak, 18; Blake Cairns, 16; Arpad Kore, 18; Jordanna Goodwin, 16; and Megan Storey, 16. Four of them were students at Danum Academy, and one had recently left, the Doncaster school said on its Facebook page.
The statement said: “Our thoughts are with all the families and friends affected by this terrible news. We are [doing] and will do everything we can to support those affected. We have opened books of remembrance, and will have quiet rooms on both our sites with counsellors available from the morning.”
The school was open on Sunday for staff and students to be together, the school said, adding: “This is the worst news a community can have, and we will pull together to support all those in need.”
Headteacher Rebecca Staples paid tribute to each of those who died. She said: “Blake was great fun. He had a huge network of friends and was a very sporty boy. He represented the school in football teams. He had a real presence; a lovely cheeky boy who had great relationships with staff.
Jordanna Goodwin never missed a single day of school from primary to the end of Year 11 and had received a special reward from the local authority. She was a joyful bubbly girl who had a fantastic rapport with staff. She was our Prom Queen this year, and looked so beautiful on the evening.
“Arpad Kore was always willing to help and assist at school; he was a totally reliable member of our community, a true gentleman who looked out for everybody. He had a tremendous sense of humour.
“Megan Storey was a really bubbly young woman. She was totally reliable for all her friends and truly loyal. She was a very caring mature young woman who was a joy to be with. She too looked stunning at our prom.
“Bartek Bortniczak had kept close ties with his school friends since leaving. He was a fun loving young man, with a lovely character and a real sense of fun, a loveable lad. He was a member of our football teams. He was a down to earth soul.”
A statement from Leeds United said Blake Cairns was the brother of Alex Cairns, a young goalkeeper at the Championship club.
In January 2011, three teenagers aged 14, 15, and 16 died after the car they were in hit a tree on the same road, a short distance from Saturday’s crash. It was being driven by the 16-year-old boy, who was too young to hold a licence.
A month before three teenagers had died a few miles away at Mexborough when their car hit another vehicle head-on while overtaking.
Asked if the A630, which has a 60mph limit, was particularly dangerous, Insp Pete Serhatlic, from South Yorkshire police, said: “It’s the second multiple fatality within a short space of time, but it’s not really a location where you consistently get road traffic collisions of a serious nature. It’s just that the ones you do get on that stretch of road seem to, unfortunately, involve multiple deaths.”
Serhatlic said the scenes facing police and other emergency workers were appalling: “It was absolutely horrific.”
Police closed the road until 3am, and are appealing for witnesses.
Asked about the fog, Serhatlic said: “Undoubtedly it was foggy last night. I was out going to the scene and sometimes the visibility was down to 30 or 35 metres, so it was patchy fog.
“The fog in places was dense. Whether that had a bearing on the incident – it’s too early to say.”
Floral tributes were left at the scene. One read: “In loving memory of such a kind and funny young lad with a bright future ahead of him.”
Another said: “Jondz. Best friends for don’t know how long but ages! Will miss your OCD and the tantrums but still love you anyway.
“My angel in the sky, never forgotten.”
