Man in court over women's crash death

A 22-year-old man will appear in court today charged with killing two women in a car crash.

Daniel Witter, 22, will face JPs accused of causing the deaths of Janet Herd and Linda Tansley by dangerous driving.

The two women died in a crash on Wednesday night near Bradford, West Yorkshire, when their Ford Fiesta was struck by a stolen Mercedes that was being followed by police.

West Yorkshire Police said Witter, from Leeds, would be appearing before Bradford Magistrates' Court charged with two counts of causing death by dangerous driving, aggravated vehicle taking causing death and other connected road traffic offences.

Another man, also aged 22, has been released on police bail pending further enquiries.

Two 15-year-old girls and a 19-year-old woman, who were passengers in the Mercedes, have been released without charge.

The crash happened near the junction of Apperley Road and Harrogate Road, close to the Stansfield Arms pub, in the Apperley Bridge area.

The stolen red Mercedes CLK 200 was spotted by a police officer near Harrogate Road in Bradford and followed in a patrol car for around 75 seconds before the collision.

Witnesses said the police car was 50 to 100 yards, or three to four seconds, behind the Mercedes at the time of the crash.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) launched an investigation but later said it would be taking no further action.