A man and two women have been arrested following a deadly car crash in West Yorkshire that killed three young men and left their friend fighting for his life.
Corey Graham and Thomas Reilly, both 22, and 21-year-old Cass Bryant have been named locally as the victims of the deadly smash in Illingworth, Halifax.
Emergency services were called to Keighley Road at the junction with Cobblestones Drive at 6.50pm on Wednesday night.
The trio were travelling in a white Ford Fiesta alongside a 21-year-old pal named locally as Spencer Elliott-Delaney, who sustained life-threatening injuries in the crash and is fighting for his life in hospital.
West Yorkshire Police said the collision also involved a BMW and a stationary unoccupied Renault Clio.
The three occupants of the blue BMW hatchback – a 37-year-old man and two women aged 18 and 32, all from Halifax – have been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and remain in police custody.
Images showed the road cordoned off by emergency services as fire officers and paramedics attended to the scene.
Tributes to the dead men have been paid across social media by friends and local sports clubs.
Cass Bryant, 21, and 22-year-old Corey Graham (pictured above) have been named as two of the three men killed in a crash in West Yorkshire
Thomas Reilly (pictured), 22, has been named locally as the third victim in the crash
Emergency services were called to the scene at 6.50pm in Wednesday. The crash involved a white Ford Fiesta, blue BMW and a parked white Renault Clio
Local amateur rugby league sides Boothtown Terriers, for whom Mr Graham had played, said it was ‘devastated’, while his former team Siddal said it was ‘deeply saddened’ and that he had been ‘taken too soon’.
Local football side Crossley AFC said Mr Bryant had been #one of the brightest players on our team’, adding: ‘If he wasn’t playing he was living his best life abroad.’
It also praised Mr Graham and Mr Reilly as ‘top supporters’.
‘No words can truly express the heartbreak felt across our community,’ it said of the trio. ‘They will always be remembered, and their loss will be felt by so many.
‘Our thoughts and prayers go out Spencer and his family, who remains in hospital at this time. Keep fighting young man.’
Mr Bryant’s partner, writing in a public post on social media, called him and his friends ‘the best set of lads,’ adding: ‘I love you all so much.’
Mr Reilly’s sister said in her own post: ‘The most beautiful boy inside and out, my best friend, my baby brother… Thomas, I love you forever and always.’
Other friends paid similarly heartfelt tributes.
‘I still cannot get over the fact I’m never gonna see or speak to you boys ever again,’ said one pal.
‘Really was the best group of mates I’ll ever have, everything we did we did as a group we were inseparable.’
‘Rest in eternal peace boys,’ said another friend on social media.
‘I can’t even begin to imagine the pain each & everyone of your families are going through at this difficult time.’
Detective Sergeant Paul Lightowler of West Yorkshire Police’s Major Collision Enquiry Team said: ‘Our thoughts go out to the family and friends of the people who died. Specially trained officers will be supporting the families involved.
‘This is a tragic incident and extensive enquiries are ongoing at the scene this morning.
‘I would like to appeal to anyone who was travelling in the area yesterday evening who may have witnessed the collision to come forward.
‘We are also keen to see any dash-cam footage of the vehicles prior to the collision.’
UPDATE:
Crash victim left fighting for his life after three friends die in horror smash
Spencer Elliott-Delaney, 21, suffered serious injuries in the crash in Illingworth, Halifax, on Wednesday, which killed Corey Graham, 22, Cassius Bryant, 22, and Thomas Reilly, 21
A young man left fighting for his life after a horror crash which killed three of his friends has been pictured for the first time.
Spencer Elliott-Delaney, 21, suffered serious injuries in the crash in Illingworth, Halifax, on Wednesday, March 18 which saw the Ford Fiesta he was travelling in with three friends involved in a massive collision.
The tragic incident claimed the lives of friends Corey Graham, 22, Cassius Bryant, 22, and Thomas Reilly, 21.
All four men were in the Ford Fiesta, which was involved in a collision with a BMW and a stationary Renault Clio. On Thursday police said three people had been arrested. The circumstances are being investigated by West Yorkshire Police, with a Bradford man currently in custody, Yorkshire Live reported today.
Spencer had “suffered catastrophic injuries and continues to undergo life saving treatment and surgery,” said Andrew Raby the organiser of a Just Giving campaign to support Spencer and his family.
From left to right: Thomas Riley, Cass Bryant, and Corey Graham(Image: Facebook)
In a post, Andrew said: “Earlier this week, many people saw the heart breaking news of a devastating road traffic collision in West Yorkshire that took the lives of three young men who were all the closest of friends.
“We are sending our deepest love and condolences to their families and friends who are facing an unimaginable loss.
“A fourth young man, Spencer, aged just 21, is now fighting for his life in intensive care.
“Spencer has suffered catastrophic injuries and continues to undergo life saving treatment and surgery.
“Only days ago he was a fit, healthy young man with his whole life ahead of him. Now he faces a long, uncertain and incredibly difficult journey.
“The emotional impact of this tragedy is overwhelming. Alongside the fear and heartbreak comes the reality of sudden financial pressure, time away from work and the challenges that lie ahead.
“These funds will help ensure that Spencer’s family can remain by his side during this critical time without the added worry of work commitments, bills and the potential long term costs of his recovery and rehabilitation.
“We are raising funds to support Spencer in his fight to survive and to give his family the strength and space to focus entirely on being there for him.”
The Just Giving page has raised more than £7,000 of an £11,000 target, with donations from more than 230 supporters. Andrew said that if more money is raised than is needed, the extra funds will go to the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.
West Yorkshire Police continue to investigate the circumstances of the crash.
A man aged 26 from Bradford has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving. He is currently in police custody.
