A teenager has paid a poignant tribute to her two young brothers who were killed when a stolen car ploughed into a tree.
Ellis and Elliott Kimmitt, aged just 12 and 14, were killed when a Renault Clio hit a tree shortly before 10pm on Saturday night, on Stonegate Road in the Meanwood area of the city.
In a heart wrenching post, their sister Ebony Thornton said Ellis and Elliott were ‘her world.’
She added: ‘I wish I told you I love you everyday, I wish I didn’t shout, argue and fight with you. I don’t think I am ever going to get over the fact you have gone.’
Ellis and Elliott Kimmitt were two of the five people killed in a car accident on Stonegate Road in Leeds
Police had been reportedly working on the assumption all seven males were in the vehicle, including Elliott and Ellis, pictured. But detectives have since widened the enquiry to include the possibility there were pedestrians involved
On Sunday, scores of mourners made their way to the scene of the fatal crash where they held a candlelit vigil. Pictured, a woman who is understood to be the mother of one of the victims looks at the floral tributes left in their memory
A third victim has been named as Darnell Harte, who is thought to be 15.
Two men, Anthoney Armour, 28, and Robbie Meerun, 24, were also killed in the incident.
Mr Armour was a father-of-two whose partner was expecting another child in three weeks.
Two 15-year-old boys have been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving after a Renault Clio hit a tree and they remained in police custody on Sunday night.
Ebony Thornton posted the emotional tribute on Facebook after finding out her brothers, who took their father’s surname but were also known by their mother’s name Thornton, had died.
She wrote: ‘September the 8th my mum had to gave birth to my baby brother at just 16 weeks, today my mum had to say goodbye to my brothers who she gave birth to 14 and 12 years ago.
‘My boys, I don’t really know what to say, my eyes are puffy every time I go to speak I cry, my head and my body is full of pain right now. You were my boys, my world and more.
‘I wish I told you I love you everyday, I wish I didn’t shout, argue and fight with you, I wish you could just be with me right this second, I am so lost for words.
‘I wish you was here. How can you too just be gone like a flick of a switch, I love you with every piece of me, and I always will this is going to be so hard.
‘Because I don’t think I am ever going to get other the fact you have gone.
‘I will never ever forget you ever, I love you so much Ellis and Elliott.’
Darnell Harte has been named as a victim of the crash in Leeds. Darnell, thought to be 15, is one of five dead
Anthoney Armour, 28, was killed when a stolen car crashed into a tree in Leeds. Mr Armour was a father of two whose partner was expecting another baby in three weeks
Robbie Meerun, 24, has also been killed. Two fifteen-year-old boys have been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving
Mourners held a candlelit vigil at the scene tonight and balloons and flowers were tied to a tree as well-wishers left their tributes to the dead
Tonight, scores of mourners made their way to the scene of the crash to pay their respects to those who died
Police stood by as mourners held each other at the scene where five people – three children and two men – lost their lives in a car accident
The road has re-opened and crowds gathered at the scene to pay tribute to the victims
One tribute to a victim said: ‘Can’t believe you’ve been taken so soon, heaven’s gained an angel. Until we meet again’
Another tribute, left to Darnell Harte, read: ‘It just doesn’t make sense. Hope now your (sic) at some peace. Will remember you for your cheekiness. RIP Debbi’
Floral tributes to one of the victims have been left at the scene
Louise Thornton, 34, known as the boys’ Godmother and Aunty Lou, said there were no words to described the loss of the two ‘cheeky chappies’, Ellis, 12, and Elliott, 15, who were ‘so loving towards their family’.
She said: ‘Elliott was the eldest. He was very loving and very trusting. He was so proud of his family, his mum and dad and his two sisters, Ebony, 16, and Bronte, five.
‘Ellis was the youngest and he looked up to Elliott and Ebony as well.
A mother who arrived at the scene saying her son was in some way involved
‘We are just devastated. We can’t believe they have both gone as that just doesn’t happen. We were so proud of the boys. They will be hugely missed by the family.
‘It will leave a huge devastating void. As a family we have already been through so much. I’m devastated. They were very well-loved. We just can’t describe how much these little boys have left a big void in our family.’
It has since emerged the Kimmitt boys’ father was jailed for eight years in 2007 for a vicious attack in which he drove over a man with a car, leaving him disabled.
Mr Armour’s partner Sarah Louise Priestley paid an emotional tribute to him, describing him as ‘my world and more’.
She said: ‘Why did you have to go? Me and (the) kids love you more than you will ever know.
‘My love for you will never end, our 3rd child is due in 3weeks & you was so excited my heart is breaking but i promise you our kids will be looked after & will always remember their daddy untill we meet again ant.’
One of Mr Armour’s friends said ‘RIP LAD’ while another said ‘Rest in peace (sic) Anthoney Armour’
Tributes were paid online to Mr Meerun.
One said: ‘Rest in piece (sic) to one of my best friends hands down the funniest most trust worthy guy I’ve met.’
Another commented: ‘R.I.P. You will be sadly missed bro. All my thoughts are with you tonight.’
The circumstances surrounding how the seven people are linked to the car that crashed remains unclear.
On Sunday, a woman arrived on the scene claiming to be the mother of one of the people involved in the incident.
Three police officers inspect the damaged tree on Stonegate Road this morning
A group of youngsters (left) arrive at the scene to lay flowers in memory of the victims as a forensic officer (right) works near the tree
Scene picture on Stonegate Road, Leeds, where five people were killed, including three children, after stolen car collided with a tree last night. Two 15-year-olds have been arrested
Police officers scour the local area for evidence after the horror crash which killed five males
Six police vehicles block Stonegate Road in the Meanwood area of Leeds after a crash last night
The two 15-year-old boys arrested were still in police custody tonight as police investigated the crash involving the Renault Clio, which legally can carry five people.
Although they were arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving, it is not clear who was driving the Clio at the time it crashed.
Police had been working on the assumption all seven people were in the vehicle when it crashed but it is understood detectives are now looking into whether any of the casualties were pedestrians.
Two of the victims died at the scene and three died later in hospital.
Two residents who live opposite the horrific crash scene have described seeing a mangled wreck of a car and bodies strewn across the road.
The couple, who wished to remain anonymous, said: ‘We were just sat here and we just heard an almighty crash.
‘We sat here and thought “what the heck was that?”
‘There were bodies laid about, it was awful. It was as bad as that.’
Describing the crash scene immediately after the incident, they added: ‘It was unbelievable. You couldn’t even recognise it as a car. It was just a crumpled mess.
‘We don’t even know if it was pedestrians. It sounded like it could have been a couple of pedestrians but I don’t know.’
Another resident said her husband had gone out and seen the remains of the car and described it as ‘a lump of metal that was not recognisable as a car’.
A resident in Stonegate Road, who wishes to remain anonymous, described hearing a ‘loud bang’ which sounded like a ‘firecracker’.
He said: ‘Me and my wife were watching TV some time between 9.30pm and 10pm when we heard a loud bang.
‘I have seen the car which I believe had an ’05 number plate completely squashed.
‘Within minutes, dozens of police cars, a fire engine and several ambulances were at the scene.
‘We could hear the sirens and see blue flashing lights and that’s when we realised something very serious had happened.
A damaged tree can be seen on the right hand side as a policeman stands behind a police cordon this morning
At around 10pm yesterday West Yorkshire Police were called to Stonegate Road in Meanwood to deal with the incident reportedly involving a Renault Clio
A team of officers look for evidence that might help piece together how five people died in Leeds
Officers in Stonegate Lane, near Stonegate Road, where the Renault Clio hit a tree last night
‘The road is completely closed off this morning and the police have said I am not allowed to drive my car out of the area until later in the afternoon so I couldn’t take my wife to work.’
A resident, who lives near the scene and wished to remain anonymous, said: ‘We were out for a meal last night in Otley and when we arrived home the top of the road was blocked off round the corner from our house.
‘I only heard what has happened this morning after my wife saw the news but it is very upsetting it has happened so close by. ‘
‘I don’t know anything more than has been reported but have seen the road is still blocked off so it must have been awful. It is very sad.’
Another resident said: ‘Just before 10pm there were loads of flashing lights past our house but I didn’t think anything of it. ‘
I’ve only realised this morning, I never heard a bang or anything similar.
‘I can’t believe it.’
Detective Chief Inspector Jim Griffiths, who is leading the investigation, said: ‘This is clearly a tragic incident in which five young people have lost their lives.
‘We are currently investigating the exact circumstances of what happened.
‘I would like to take this opportunity to ask anyone who saw what happened or has information about it to call us on 101 quoting log 1859 of Saturday 26 November.’
An eyewitness reported 10 emergency vehicles including police cars, fire engines and ambulances rushing to the scene.
West Yorkshire Police said in a statement: ‘At 9.54pm on Saturday, November 25, police were called to a road traffic collision on Stonegate Road, Leeds where a stolen Renault Clio had collided with a tree.
‘Five males aged 12, 15, 15, 24 and 28 have sadly passed away as a result of the road traffic collision and two 15-year-old males are in police custody.
‘Family of all the deceased have been informed.’
A police officer stands in a gate adjacent to the tree into which the Renault Clio crashed
Five people, including three children, have been killed after a stolen car crashed into a tree in Leeds. Officers are seen here inspecting the scene
The youngest victim in the crash was a 12-year-old boy, West Yorkshire Police said. Two 15-year-old boys and two men aged 24 and 28 also died
What appears to be pieces of the car lie on the pavement near the tree next to evidence markers
A screen grab of a video taken at the scene last night showing blue flashing lights of the emergency services vehicles
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