West Yorkshire Police have arrrested a 39 year old man from Harrogate after a car being pursued by the police crashed into another car, killing two people. 

The crash happened at quarter to one in the morning when a blue BMW 123D failed to stop for police on Gelderd Road in Leeds. The car then went on to crash into white Volkswagen Scirocco -killing the two people in the VW.  The 22 year old driver died at the scene, his passenger, a 23 year old woman died later in hospital.  Both were from York. 

Police say the arrested man from Harrogate, who was an occupant of the BMW, has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving but is also being held on suspicion of driving while over the prescribed limit for cannabis. 

Three other teenage occupants of the BMW, two boys aged 16 and 17 and a girl aged 16, have also been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.  Police say the teenagers were taken to hospital for treatment to injuries that are not considered life-threatening. 

A spokesperson for West Yorkshire Police said a referral had been made to the Independent Office for Police Conduct which would investigate the crash.  A police scene and road closure remain in place in Geldred Road and drivers are advised to avoid the area.