THREE teenage pals died in a car crash on a South Yorkshire road early this morning - taking the death toll on the region's roads to five in just days.
Driver Michael Scholey, aged 19, from Lundwood in Barnsley and 17-year-old Kirsty Louise Goulding from Worsbrough died when the blue Peugeot 207 they were travelling in smashed into a wall.
This afternoon police named the third victim as 16-year-o
ld Kelly Cooper from Kendray.
The three were travelling along the A635 Doncaster Road, Ardsley, Barnsley, heading towards Darfield, to visit family or friends when tragedy struck at around 12.30am.
Read our book of condolence and add your own tribute to Kirsty, Michael and Kelly. Click here.A police investigation is now underway into the tragedy but no other vehicles are believed to have been involved in the smash.
The accident happened near Tyers Hall Farm, just past Barnsley Crematorium, on a stretch of road where the national speed limit of 60mph applies.
Emergency services were alerted to the smash by two other motorists who came across the wreckage, but did not see the vehicle hit the wall.
Inspector Allison Huck-stepp, from South Yorkshire Police, described the loss of three young lives as "a tragedy".
"It is an absolute tragedy - every parent's worst nightmare and every police officer's nightmare.
"It is totally tragic and a full investigation is now underway to get to the bottom of what happened."
She said police had broken the heartbreaking news to immediate relatives of the dead teenagers who were pronounced dead at the scene.
Watch manager Darryl Johnson, of Tankersley Fire Station, said one of the victims had to be cut free from the car.
"Several members of the crews assisted the amubulance service to cut one of the casualties from the car.
"It's not the sort of work we want to do and our condolences go to the families of those involved."
The road was closed for around three hours between Woodlaithes Farm and Yew Tree Garden Centre while investigations were carried out at the scene.
The accident came less than five days after sisters Emily Taylor, 21 and Georg-ina, 17, were killed when the Ford Ka they were travelling in crashed into a Mercedes 220 on the A625 Hathersage Road, Dore.
The sisters, from the Peak District village of Eyam, were driving downhill from the summit near the Fox House pub, towards the Dore Moor Inn, when the accident occurred on Saturday.
Anyone with information should call South Yorkshire Police witness line on 0114 220 2940.
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