THREE people died and a fourth was seriously injured yesterday when their car crashed into a tree and burst into flames.
Passers-by managed to pull one man free from the wreckage, then watched in horror as a fireball engulfed the vehicle, killing a man and two women.
Northumnbria Police said the Seat Cordoba, carrying four friends, skidded off the road at Bill Quay, Gateshead, and hit a tree at 1am.
Three passers-by were involved in rescuing a rear seat passenger moments before the vehicle burst into flames.
A police surgeon confirmed the three victims dead at the scene but a spokesman said that it would take at least until Friday to formally identify their bodies.
Last night, friends said two of the victims were Scott Castlehow, 21, and 19-year-old Laura Howson, both of Leam Lane, Gateshead.
Mr Castlehow lived with his parents and was a striker in his local pub team, Wardley Willows.
Team manager Robert Jameson, 43, said: "I feel shattered at the minute. I'm walking around in a daze. It's hard to come to terms with a young lad with so much ahead of him dying like that."
The rescued passenger, a 26-year-old Tyneside man, is being treated at Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article