Leeds car crash: 15-year-old charged with causing death of three children and two men by dangerous driving

Suspect appears at Leeds Magistrates' Court charged with five counts of causing death by dangerous driving

A 15-year-old boy has been charged with causing the deaths of five people when a car crashed into a tree in Leeds.

Three children and two men, who were all travelling in the same car, were killed in the “catastrophic” crash in a suburban street on Saturday night.

West Yorkshire Police said the suspect would appear at Leeds Magistrates' Court on Wednesday morning, charged with five counts of causing death by dangerous driving.

The victims have been named as Ellis Thornton-Kimmitt, 12, his brother, Elliot Thornton-Kimmitt, 14, Darnell Harte, 15, Robbie Meerun, 24, and Anthony Armour, also 24.

Police believe six people were in the black Renault Clio when it crashed in Stonegate Road in the Meanwood area of Leeds shortly before 10pm.

The car had been stolen in the Headingley area of Leeds at 6.30pm the same evening.

On Monday, Detective Chief Inspector Jim Griffiths told reporters that emergency services had been confronted by “a scene of total carnage” when they arrived.

Relatives of the dead brothers were among a succession of people who have visited the growing shrine of flowers, balloons, candles and messages at the crash scene.

The 15-year-old was taken to hospital with serious but not life-threatening injuries after the crash.

Additional reporting by PA