12:10

Update: Two dead, three injured following crash in south Manchester

Two men have died after a horrific early hours crash just outside a south Manchester high school.

The M.E.N understands that officers in a police patrol car spotted the white Audi A5 as it sped along Wilbraham Road, in Whalley Range, at around 3.15am this morning.

Before officers could begin a pursuit, the high-powered vehicle veered off the road onto the pavement, hitting street furniture and two parked cars.

Two men were pronounced dead at the scene.

Another two people suffered serious injuries and were rushed to hospital along with a third man, whose injuries were not life-threatening.

Police have not released any ages at this stage.

But officers say that the car was travelling at ‘high speed’ towards Princess Road just moments before the crash.

The collision happened just metres from the grounds of Whalley Range High School for Girls.

Pupils were guided past the scene of the horror smash by teachers and police officers as they arrived at school this morning.

A large police cordon is currently in place along Wilbraham Road between Alexandra Road South and Princess Road.

Traffic officers have spent the morning scouring the scene for evidence and the road is not expected to reopen until this afternoon at the earliest.

The Audi was this lunchtimebeing removed from the scene.

One neighbour, who lives close by, said he saw emergency vehicles on the busy main road outside the school this morning.

He said he was very shocked to hear about the collision and added: “Two dead and three seriously injured - it’s terrible. You often hear cars driving up and down here late at night.”

The Greater Manchester Police Professional Standards Branch has been informed.

The incident has been automatically referred has to the Independent Police Complaints Commission - the body which investigates police conduct.

Superintendent Jim Liggett said: “This morning a white Audi A5 collided with two parked cars and street furniture and two men have sadly died.

“We are in the process of informing their families, to whom we will be providing support from specially trained officers and offering our sincere condolences.

“We are investigating the circumstances leading up to the collision, although our enquiries are still at an early stage and we will also be providing support to everyone involved in this tragic incident.

“Officers from the Serious Collision Investigation Unit remain at the scene conducting enquiries and the road is likely to remain closed for some time.

“The GMP Professional Standards Branch has been informed and an automatic referral has been made to the IPCC in line with standard policy.”