Four young men who were killed when their car crashed into the side of a house and burst into flames screamed ‘help us’ as rescuers battled to save them.
Locals dashed outside after the ‘horrific collision’ on the A4 in Derry Hill, near Calne, Wiltshire, at 3am on Sunday morning.
Retired builder Peter Connolly and his wife Margaret told The Sun they tried to save the young men from the blaze after the car slammed into their home, but the fire was too intense.
The terrified young men shouted ‘help us’ as the couple desperately tried to help them. Mr Connolly, who is in his 70s, said: ‘I’d gone up to bed just after 2am because I was watching the TV downstairs.
‘I’d just nodded off when there was a sound like a bomb going off.’It made the whole house rattle and shake.
‘I was sleeping just four feet from where the car struck the house.’
He said the collision into his property it blew out the windows in his property and caused his wristwatch to stop working at the moment of the crash.
Police said all four victims, some believed to be in their teens, died at the scene, where officers and a forensic team have been investigating throughout today as devastated friends and loved ones laid flowers at the scene.
Four young men have died after a car crashed into a house on the A4 in Wiltshire during the early hours of Sunday, police have said. Pictured: The car being removed from the scene
Wiltshire Police said the collision took place on the A4 in Derry Hill, near Calne, at 3am. Pictured: The car is removed from the scene today
Officers have today begun an investigation into the crash, which led the vehicle to catch fire
Officers laid out marker cones at the scene of the crash today as they began their investigations
A group of young men and women could be seen paying their respects at the side of the A4 at around 12:30pm. They appeared to be assisted by police and stayed for around 20 minutes, surveying the site.
Locals said accidents happened ‘too frequently’ on the road and revealed they had warned it was unsafe.
Parish council vice-chairman Jim Cook said the speed limits were ‘really not conducive to safe driving’ because they suddenly went from 60mph to 40mph as motorists entered the village.
Superintendent Steve Cox, of Wiltshire Police, said: ‘This was an absolutely horrific collision.
‘All blue-light services attended the scene and were met with devastating scenes.
‘All four occupants of the vehicle died at the scene.
‘Their families have been informed and we are in the process of assigning each family with specialist trained officers.
‘My thoughts and the thoughts of all at Wiltshire Police are with them all today.’
Paying tribute on Facebook, a resident said: ‘RIP boys. Truly gutted the world won’t be the same without you.’
At the crash site, Mr Cook said it was a ‘terrible tragedy’ but that ‘speed is such a factor of our lives these days’.
He told ITV: ‘We are very worried as a council and as residents of course about the speed limits on the A4.
‘They are 40mph in this area but they come from de-restricted 60mph.
‘Those changes in speed limits are really not conducive to safe driving.’
A vehicle crashed into the side of a house and subsequently caught fire. Pictured: Police forensic officers at the scene earlier today
The occupants of the house immediately called 999 and were evacuated while the fire service extinguished the blaze. Pictured: A police forensic officer at the scene today
Police at the scene clean up some debris from the side of the road following the crash earlier today
A 75-year-old woman crashed into a building off the same road 15 miles east in Marlborough just last month.
Sheila Gillett was on her way to place flowers on the graves of her late husband and son when her Ford Mondeo collided with the town hall.
Police said the A4 and the A342 remained closed while investigation and recovery work was going on.
Officers are appealing for anyone with information to get in touch.
Angus Macpherson, the Police and Crime Commissioner for Wiltshire, said: ‘Really tragic news following a collision in Derry Hill.
‘My thoughts are with the families and friends of the four young men who sadly died.
‘My thoughts are also with all emergency services colleagues who attended the scene.’