Post mortems held for crash victims

Accident investigators were called to the scene

Post mortem examinations have been held on two young people who died when their car left the road while being followed by a patrol vehicle in west Wales.

Kathlyn McMullan, 17, and Michael Jones, 20, were killed when their Renault hit a telegraph pole, went down a steep slope and crashed into an outbuilding.

Ms McMullan's family has questioned why the police should have been chasing the car, which was returning from a local takeway shop.

A police investigation has been launched into the crash, which occured at around 2245GMT on Friday night on the A475 near Lampeter, Ceredigion.

Kathlyn McMullan: Crash victim

An 18-year-old man is now in a serious but stable condition after sustaining multiple injuries in the crash - police have declined to confirm his identity.

He has been transferred to the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff.

It is not yet known who was driving the car, and neither the police nor the Police Complaints Authority could confirm the speed at which the car was travelling.

Complaints authority

"As is usual in a tragic incident like this, the PCA has the matter referred to it in order that a member of the authority can supervise the investigation," said Leo Pilkington, of the Police Complaints Authority.

"It seems that late last night a car was stopped, or tried to be stopped, by police."

Michael Jones: Died in accident

"It didn't stop. Police followed it and shortly after that tragically the car left the road," said Mr Pilkington.

None of the officers involved in the crash have been suspended.

Chief Superintendent Andy Edwards expressed their condolences to the families of the two young people who died.

He also revealed police were anxious to hear from anyone who was in the area at the time.

Ms McMullan leaves a 20-month-old son, Ryan, who is being cared for by her family.

Her brother Shaun said: ""It is heartbreaking for Ryan. He is a lovely little lad and they had just had a great Christmas together.

"They called him their little cherub. He is advanced for his age but of course he doesn't realise what has happened.

"He keeps on asking for his mummy and daddy."