Teenagers die when car hits tree

Two teenagers from Stoke-on-Trent were killed when the car they were travelling in hit a tree in the city.

A 17 and 18-year-old died and a 16-year-old was taken to hospital after the crash which happened on the A500 at around 0120 BST on Wednesday.

Rush-hour motorists could not get onto the M6 because the A500 northbound was partially closed for more than six hours after the accident.

Police said it was shut for so long because the tree had to be cut down.

Back seat

No other vehicle was involved in the accident, which happened between the Talke and Audley junctions, and the cause is being investigated by police.

The 17-year-old driver and the front-seat passenger were pronounced dead at the scene.

The back-seat passenger was taken to the University Hospital of North Staffordshire in Stoke-on-Trent. His injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.

The three youths were travelling towards Audley in a red Ford Fiesta when the accident happened.

The A500 was still shut northbound between the Talke turn off and the M6 in the rush hour.