Four men in their 20s have died after the car they were travelling in veered off the road and crashed into a lamppost in Merseyside, north-west England.
The victims were travelling in a black Seat Cupra along Liverpool Road in Huyton when the vehicle veered off the road and collided with the lamppost shortly before 2 a.m. while heading from Liverpool towards Knowsley.
Confirming the incident on Friday, Merseyside Police said two 23-year-old men, a 24-year-old man, and a 26-year-old man were pronounced dead at the scene.
It added that the fifth passenger, aged 27, survived the crash and remains in hospital in a stable condition.
The crash prompted police to cordon off the area as investigations got underway, with sections of Liverpool Road and East Prescot Road expected to remain closed throughout the weekend.
Speaking on the incident, Merseyside Police Superintendent Paul Holden expressed condolences to the victims’ families and described the incident as a devastating tragedy.
“First and foremost, our thoughts are with the family of the four men who sadly lost their lives. Their families have been informed and are being supported by our specially trained family liaison officers. This is a truly devastating moment for their families and loved ones,” he said.
Holden appealed to anyone who witnessed the crash or was driving through the area shortly before it occurred to contact the police.
He also urged residents with doorbell or CCTV footage showing the black Seat Cupra or the collision to come forward, saying the material could prove vital to the investigation.
Police said inquiries into the cause of the crash are ongoing as officers work to establish the circumstances surrounding the fatal collision.