A grieving uncle has paid tribute to a ‘proud father-of-three’ and his one-year-old son who were killed alongside two others when a car being chased by police hit their people carrier.
The VW Touran was carrying seven people, including two children when it was hit by the speeding VW Golf- a police BMW was chasing the Golf at the time of the collision.
The uncle of one of the men who lost his life today paid tribute to him in The Star, saying: ‘He was a proud dad of three, who was always smiling and was looking forward to a family trip this month.
‘May Allah grant you a place in the gardens of paradise.’
Two men aged 35 and 50, a 41-year-old woman and a one-year-old baby have all died.
An off-duty midwife who lives in the area tried to save the life of the baby following the horrific crash in the Sheffield suburb of Darnall, in South Yorkshire.
Two women and a three year old girl were rushed to hospital. Police confirmed the child was fighting for her life, while a 22-year-old woman was in a critical condition.
The second woman who survived is in a serious but stable condition.
All of the victims are members of two families.
The three suspects in the VW Golf were arrested at the scene and were uninjured following the collision.
Four people were killed after a VW Golf being chased by police crashed into this VW Touran in Sheffield last night
Three suspects aged 17, 18 and 22 who were inside this VW Golf, pictured left, were arrested at the scene. Police confirmed they were chasing the Golf at the time of the collision
Police were chasing the VW Golf with three suspects on board, pictured right, when it crashed into the VW Touran, centre
A 22-year-old woman currently remains in hospital in a critical condition.
It is believed the VW Touran was preparing to turn right into Bannham Road with a 30mph speed limit when the VW Golf slammed into it.
Three men travelling in the VW Golf, aged 23, 17 and 18 have been arrested and remain in custody.
Witnesses said an off-duty midwife who lives near the crash scene tried to save the victims, including the baby boy.
Miss Iqbal Khan,69, said: ‘I heard a car travelling really fast and a loud bang, which I thought was fireworks.
‘I had heard police sirens for quite a while in the area and there were six or seven police cars immediately on the scene of the crash.’
Police said the VW Touran contained the members of two families in a press conference earlier today
Police covered the VW Touran with a tarpaulin before loading it onto a recovery truck and removing it for examination
The police car involved in the chase was undamaged. It was removed from the scene as part of the independent investigation
Miss Khan said locals believe the family in the people carrier were Slovakian and the three men arrested in the Golf are from the Manor estate in Sheffield.
Miss Khan said: ‘It’s horrific that four innocent lives have been lost.
‘The police seemed more concerned about arrested the lads in the Golf than helping the people in the other vehicle.
‘A midwife who lives up the road tried to resuscitate the baby. She is all shaken up at the moment.’
Speaking at a press conference held this afternoon, Sheffield District Commander Stuart Barton said: ‘There has been a short pursuit.
‘Clearly in these situations it is right that we refer the matter to the IOPC.
‘They attended the scene themselves last night.’
Commenting on the victims, Commander Barton said: ‘We think they are part of two families.
‘Clearly we are still working on the family makeup at the moment.
‘We have trained family liason officers working with those people.’
The commander confirmed the men have been arrested on suspicion of death by dangerous driving.
The commander added that the injured are ‘in the best place’ and ‘getting the best care’ possible in hospital.
He added: ‘My thoughts go to the family members who have passed away last night.’
Iffat Yasmin, who was first on the scene after the horror crash last night has been taken in hospital.
Relative Tufial Hussian, said: ‘I am taking her to hospital as she is in a state of shock.’
The three men travelling inside the Golf escaped with minor injuries.
The IOPC today confirmed it had already reviewed dash-cam footage of the crash from the police vehicle involved and said ‘there is no indication that the police vehicle collided with either of the vehicles involved’.
In a statement released today, Regional Director Miranda Biddle said: ‘Our thoughts are with those families who have lost their loved ones and all those affected by what happened on Friday evening including the emergency services.
The police car involved in the chase, pictured, was loaded onto the back of a recovery truck so it can be examined by experts from the Independent Office for Police Conduct, who have launched their own investigation
Firefighters had to cut the roof from the VW Touran to recover the victims’ bodies and rescue the female survivor
‘As soon as we were informed, we sent investigators to the scene and we will be carrying out an investigation to establish what actions South Yorkshire Police took prior to the crash.
‘This is standard procedure when lives are lost following an incident involving the police.
‘We have been able to view dash cam footage which confirms that although a pursuit did take place prior to the crash, there is no indication that the police vehicle collided with either of the vehicles involved.
‘We have also obtained initial statements from the officers involved.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct has launched an investigation into the crash as the car was being chased by police at the time
It is believed the VW Touran was preparing to turn right into Bannham Road when it was involved in the collision
The three suspects in the Golf, managed to escape the crash with only minor injuries and did not require hospital treatment
The VW Touran, pictured, was carrying seven people including the driver when it was hit by the VW Golf
‘South Yorkshire Police is carrying out a criminal investigation and has arrested the three men travelling in the Golf.
‘We will be making contact with the families affected as soon as possible to explain our role and what they can expect to happen during our investigation.’
The mayor of Sheffield Dan Jarvis, 45, posted on Twitter that his thoughts are with the families of those who died and the local community.
Detective Chief Inspector Jude Ashmore, said: ‘First and foremost, my thoughts are with the family of the victims who have lost loved ones during this incredibly tragic incident.
‘A high number of resources were deployed to the scene last night, with officers from all of the emergency services working through the night and into this morning to assist.
The seven people in this VW Touran, pictured, were members of two families according to South Yorkshire Police
‘Our priority now is to support the victims’ families and those affected, and work hard to determine the exact circumstances around what happened.
‘Main Road is expected to remain closed for most of the day as we continue to gather evidence and recover items from the scene.
‘I know the local community will be shocked and saddened to hear what happened last night and we will have officers in the area today to speak to residents, should they have any questions or concerns.
‘I’d like to thank those who helped immediately after the collision and for their support and patience during the evening
‘I’d also like to ask anyone who saw what happened, or who may have dashcam footage of the collision to please get in touch with us.’
South Yorkshire Police added; ‘Due to the fact that the Golf was being pursued before the collision, a mandatory referral has been made to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).’
‘Anyone with information should call 101 quoting incident number 741 of 9 November 2018.’
The mayor of Sheffield Dan Jarvis, 45, posted on Twitter that his thoughts are with the families of those who died and the local community
The IOPC today confirmed it had already reviewed dash-cam footage of the crash from the police vehicle involved and said ‘there is no indication that the police vehicle collided with either of the vehicles involved’
Three men travelling in the VW Golf, aged 23, 17 and 18 have been arrested and remain in custody
One resident who has lived in the area for more than 40 years said he thought the crash was a gunshot.
Terry Burke, 75, said he heard the loud bang while he watched the Sheffield football derby on television.
Mr Burke, who has lived in the property just 100 metres from the scene for the past 45 years, said ambulances, police cars and the fire service all arrived at the scene within minutes.
He said: ‘There were two fire engines. There were buses trapped down here. The bang was very very loud, everyone on the street heard it.
‘When I heard the bang everybody rushed to their windows. I have heard many bangs on the road before.
Sheffield District Commander Stuart Barton, pictured, confirmed two families were travelling in the VW Touran
‘By the time I looked there were cop cars everywhere you looked, I have no idea where they got them all from and how they got here so quickly.
‘There were at least ten police cars.’
Another resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said there were chases down the street ‘almost every day’.
The woman, who lives on the same road, added: ‘The car must have been going very very fast.
‘It happens nearly once a day. It happens at least once every two days. They come flying down here.’
Adam Robinson, 24, a warehouseman, said: ‘I heard sirens coming down the road and know the car they were chasing must have been going fast because of his load the bang was when it crashed – it sounded like a gun going off.
‘I looked out of my upstairs bedroom window and saw loads of police cars that where there very rapidly. Then a ambulances and fire engines arrived.’
All the vehicles have now been removed from the scene but a police cordon remains in place.
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