Four men dead after car crashes into lamp-post

Four men were killed in a crash after a car they were travelling in hit a lamp-post

Four men have died after a car hit a lamp-post on Merseyside, police have said.

The car left the road and crashed on Liverpool Road, Huyton, just before 02:00 BST.

The men, two aged 23, and two others, aged 24 and 26 died at the scene, Merseyside Police said.

A 27-year-old man who was a passenger inside the vehicle has been taken to hospital and is in a stable condition, the force added.

The black Seat Cupra had been travelling from Liverpool towards Knowsley before it came off the road and hit the lamp-post.

Eleven roads in the area have been closed, including Liverpool Road and East Prescot Road, from the junction of Princess Drive and Finch Lane while police carry out their investigations.

Two main roads have been shut off with nine side roads affected

The closures are likely to remain in place over the weekend, the force said.

Supt Paul Holden of Merseyside Police said the force's priority was to get answers for the families of those affected over how the crash occurred.

He said: "We know this happened very early this morning, but if anyone saw what happened or were driving through the area just before the incident occurred then please get in touch."

Corina Thomas who lives nearby told BBC Radio Merseyside said she heard helicopters in the area "at about two in the morning".

"It woke me up and it was hovering here, and just coming round and checking the area."

Tyler Montague who lives on Dinas Lane with Ayla Kirchner, said it sounded like a "petrol tank had exploded" and they could smell fuel in their house.

Kirchner said she heard what she described as "rubble falling" after a big explosion at about 02:00 BST.

They said they saw half a car, and another half of a car scattered down the road, but did not see where the accident had happened.

Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, external, X, external, and Instagram, external. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.

This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly. Please refresh the page for the fullest version.

You can receive Breaking News on a smartphone or tablet via the BBC News App. You can also follow @BBCBreaking on X, external to get the latest alerts.