Four arrested over Branton double-fatal house crash

The scene following the collision in Poppyfields Way which happened at around 12.50pm today, Tuesday 25 August. Police have confirmed that two people have died following a collision in Branton earlier today. A third person is currently being treated in hospital with life-threatening injuries. All three people were inside the car at the time of collision. It was reported that a car set on fire car after it was in collision with a house.
25 August 2015. Picture Brtuce Rollinson — The scene following the collision in Poppyfields Way which happened at around 12.50pm today, Tuesday 25 August. Police have confirmed that two people have died following a collision in Branton earlier today. A third person is currently being treated in hospital with life-threatening injuries. All three people were inside the car at the time of collision. It was reported that a car set on fire car after it was in collision with a house. 25 August 2015. Picture Brtuce Rollinson

South Yorkshire Police said today that an 18-year-old man, from Doncaster, was arrested by police this morning as part of the investigation into the fatal collision in the village of Branton on Tuesday.

The force yesterday arrested two other male suspects, aged 21 and 15 both of whom are from Doncaster, on suspicion of the same offence. The man, 21, was arrested in South Wales, while a 21-year-old woman from Doncaster has also been arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender.

Two men died following a collision between a car and a house on Poppyfields Way just before 1pm on Tuesday, while a third man is in critical condition in hospital.

Earlier today poice appealed for two males who were in the crashed car but left the scene to come forward, as they were both thought to be seriously injured. The force said in a statement tonight that it was no longer looking for the two men.

It is believed that five people were in the car that crashed but that another vehicle may have been involved in the collision.

Work is ongoing to formally identify the two deceased men. Witnesses or anyone with information about the collision or the whereabouts of the two men are asked to contact 101, quoting incident number 451 of Tuesday 25 August.

Emergency Services pictured attending the incident in Branton. Picture: Marie Caley NDFP Branton Incident MC 5

Alternatively, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. If you’d like to email pictures or footage to police, email [email protected], quoting incident 451 of Tuesday 25 August.

Earlier this week, a garden centre worker described how he found a burning car upside-down in his front garden.

Michael Burton said his girlfriend was in the house iwhen a Renault Megane smashed through the front wall of his garden and burst into flames.

He said the rockery in front of the house probably stopped the vehicle smashing into the house itself and setting the building on fire with his girlfriend inside.

Michael Burton looks at his parents house at the scene of a fatal car crash in Branton, near Doncaster, in which two people have died and a third person is being treated in hospital with life-threatening injuries, after the vehicle crashed into the property and then burst into flames. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Tuesday August 25, 2015. See PA story POLICE House. Photo credit should read: John Giles/PA Wire

The 21-year-old said his parents, who own the detached house, are on holiday in Tenerife.

Eyewitnesses said at least two cars were seen speeding together just before the crash.

Mr Burton said his girlfriend came out of the house to see this man “burning alive” as he stumbled out of the driver’s door of the car.

He said he believes quick action by neighbours probably saved his life.

Mr Burton said: “From what I heard, she actually saw the driver get out of the car, burning alive. He ran across the road to the lady across the road and she did a sterling job to help the guy.

“If it wasn’t for her, he would have been another fatality.”

Speaking in front of his wrecked front garden, Mr Burton described how he heard something as he was working at a nearby garden centre and thought it was a lorry that had clipped the kerb and toppled over.

He said he went to investigate and said: “I looked at my colleague, Dave, and just said: ‘My garden’s on fire’.

“We both ran up the road as quick as we could.

“My first thought was my girlfriend - is she alright, is she out of the house? And she was out of the house on the phone.”

He said: “There was the wall all over the floor and there was a car - a Renault Megane - upside down and on fire.

“I got there just as the young man was being put out.”