A powerful car in which two Queensbury men died when it skidded out of control and crashed is believed to have been “racing” another car shortly beforehand, a police chief has said.

The 20-year-old driver and 18-year-old front seat passenger of the Volkswagen Golf GTI suffered fatal injuries when it smashed into a steel lamppost in Ovenden Road, Halifax, at about 10pm on Friday.

A 19-year-old man, also of Queensbury, who was travelling in the back, suffered foot injuries and was taken to Leeds General Infirmary for treatment.

Speaking at the scene today, Chief Superintendent Angela Williams, the commander of Calderdale Police, said: “The red Golf car came out of the town centre, we believe at a speed above the 40mph limit, lost control and collided with a lamppost and the central reservation.

“Both the driver and the front-seat passenger died at the scene.

“Witness reports and CCTV inquiries suggest that the red Golf may have been racing around Halifax town centre earlier along with a red Astra.

“We have now traced that vehicle and a 30-year-old Halifax man has been arrested in relation to this incident and the earlier driving standards. That man is now out on police bail while the investigation continues.

“It is a very tragic set of circumstances for the men’s families, and for the Queensbury area, which has lost two young men and is obviously in shock.”

Anyone with information about the crash has been urged to contact the Major Collision Enquiry Team at West Yorkshire Police on (01924) 293047, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111."