Teenager, 18, dies after car plunges into sewage treatment pit – two others injured
An 18-year-old has died after a car plunged into a sewage treatment pit in West Yorkshire, with two others arrested following the incident.
The victim’s body was discovered near a partially submerged white Volkswagen Golf at Wheldale Sewage Works in Castleford on Sunday morning.
Two other occupants of the vehicle were later arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving after being rescued and taken to hospital.
Police officers were called to the scene just before 6.20am on Sunday after receiving reports that a car had left Wheldon Road and entered a sewage ditch.
Emergency services rushed to Wheldale Sewage Works, where they found the vehicle submerged in water.
Firefighters and water rescue teams attended the incident in sub-zero temperatures.
The white VW Golf was found partially submerged in a wastewater oxidation ditch, with one door open and smashed windows visible.
Rescue teams discovered the teenager’s body a few yards away from the vehicle in the sewage works.
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The 18-year-old male, who was from the Wakefield area, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Images from the site showed the wrecked car in the dirty wastewater tank where it came to rest after leaving the road.
The two survivors of the incident, a man and a woman both aged 21, were rescued from the submerged vehicle.
Both occupants were taken to hospital for treatment following their rescue from the sewage pit – and were later arrested.
No further details about their condition or current custody status have been released by authorities.
A West Yorkshire Police spokesman said: “The incident is being investigated by the major collision enquiry team, who are appealing for anyone who witnessed the vehicle travelling along Wheldon Road from the direction of Airedale immediately beforehand to contact them.”
Investigators are particularly interested in any footage that could assist with their enquiries.
Anyone with information is urged to contact police on 101 or use the live-chat facility on the West Yorkshire Police website.