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Two dead in stolen car crash
Paul R Taylor and John Scheerhout
15/ 8/2008


TWO young men have died after a stolen vehicle they were in crashed into a garden crushing a caravan and a car.

Gareth Mc, a 20-year-old plasterer from the Larkhill Estate and his friend Richard L, 19, both died at the scene when the driver lost control of the Vauxhall Astra and veered off Alderdale Road in Cheadle Hulme.

Skid marks show where the car hit the kerb and the grass verge before smashing through the fence post and gate and hitting the caravan parked in the garden.

The smash happened at around 1am today at the junction of Alderdale and Ladybridge Roads in Cheadle Hulme.

Firefighters used cutting gear to free young men from the car which had turned on to its side.

The car ended up in Derek Cs garden.

Derek, 58, a works manager, said: "We woke up at 12.55 this morning to this almighty thundering noise. We thought it was someone breaking in, went downstairs and saw people outside. It was total carnage. The car had hit the kerb and ploughed into the fence, taking out a concrete fence post and hitting the caravan.

"I told the fire brigade there were two gas bottles in the caravan so they doused everything down with water. When they got into the car they turned round and said `they're both dead' and everything slowed down at that point. It's a terrible way to go."

Impact

Derek said that firefighters had to spend nearly an hour making the bottles safe before they could cut the pair free from the car. He added: "I was speaking to two lads who were crossing the road seconds before. They saw the car come screeching round the corner, hit one kerb and then another, lose control and then it must have blown a tyre as it hit our kerb and took off, clearing the shrubbery before hitting the caravan. It must have been some impact because there are parts of the car in the back garden, a brake disc I think."

"It punched the caravan into the shed, buckling the floor and the shed's hit the greenhouse. My wife's Fiesta's a write-off as well from the side impact. My son has slept in that caravan before when we've had guests in the spare room. I've mixed emotions this morning. It'll take a few days to get over. Obviously I feel for the two lads and their families."

A spokeswoman for Greater Manchester Police confirmed the car had been stolen from outside a house on Radnormere Drive earlier last night.

"The investigation into the exact circumstances of this collision will continue but at this stage it is not believed that any other vehicle was involved. Nobody else was injured in the collision."

A firefighter said: "We made the vehicle safe and then extricated the males. We were guided by the paramedics as to how far we went."

Family and friends, many in tears, were visiting the scene this morning leaving flowers.

Adam N, 22, Gareth's uncle, said: "They were both caring lads, both top lads who look after their mates. Just good lads and it's a terrible shame what's happened and the way they've gone.

"It's got right through to everyone. . They say they won't be speeding any more. It was just a crazy moment. I was with him a few minutes before and he nipped out with one of his mates."

Caine M, another of Gareth's uncles, said: "Obviously we are not good this morning. This family are in a bad way and his mum is totally devastated. It's not sunk in yet, we only found out about 7am this morning."