INVESTIGATIONS are continuing today into a horror smash that claimed the life of an 11-year-old boy from Bradford.

The young victim and five other members of his family were involved in the shocking incident on the A64 on Monday.

They were travelling in one of three vehicles that crashed at Grimston Bar, on the eastern edge of York, at around 1.30pm.

A man arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving was kept in police custody on Monday night but released on bail yesterday as enquiries continued.

The crash involved a white Peugeot drop-sided van which was towing a trailer, a silver Vauxhall Zafira and a grey Porsche.

A spokesman for North Yorkshire Police said the vehicles were travelling in the same direction and were in the outside lane of the carriageway when the crash happened.

“The Peugeot and the Zafira are believed to have been stationary in heavy traffic at the time of the collision,” she said.

“Six people from Bradford, a man and woman and their four children, were in the Vauxhall Zafira.

“The woman and the four children were injured, and tragically, one of the children, an 11-year-old boy, was pronounced dead when he arrived at hospital.

“The woman and three other children sustained serious but believed non-life-threatening injuries.”

The driver of the Peugeot van was taken to hospital with minor injuries.

The Porsche driver, a man in his 40s, sustained minor injuries and was arrested at the scene.

Police said yesterday afternoon that while they had received a good response in their appeal for witnesses, they were continuing to urge anyone with any information about the crash to come forward, particularly anyone who had dash-cam footage of the incident.

Sergeant Julian Pearson, of North Yorkshire Police Roads Policing Group, said: “The traffic was heavy on the A64 at the time and it’s possible that there will have been motorists, especially hauliers, who could have dash-cam footage of either the traffic situation in the moments before the crash, or have footage of the collision itself.

“I urge them, or anyone else who witnessed the collision or saw any of the vehicles involved prior to the crash, to contact us.”

North Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service confirmed three fire crews were called to the scene by police, along with an incident support unit from Tadcaster, carrying heavy rescue gear.

Various tributes to the boy have been paid on the Telegraph & Argus Facebook page.

He is yet to be formally named by police, but one poster, Shaista Irfan, wrote: “So upsetting. Such a lovely family too. RIP Ahmed xxx.”

Another wrote: “He was my son’s best friend, this is very, very sad.”

One message suggested the parents of the family may have worked as teachers in Bradford.

Giving her condolences, Emma Hardy wrote: “Same age as my son. It absolutely doesn’t bear thinking about.

“R.I.P little one, thoughts are with his family. Hope they all find the strength to pull through this horrendous tragedy.”

Allison Taylor added: “Terrible an innocent little boy losing his life like that, thoughts with his family and friends at this sad time. R.I.P.”

Anyone with information on the incident is asked to contact police on 101 and ask for the Major Collision Investigation Unit, or alternatively, send an e-mail to Julian.Pearson@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk.

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