The scene of ‘carnage’ in north Belfast’s Crumlin Road after a stolen car crashes

A MAN is critically injured in hospital and three others are receiving treatment after a stolen car being pursued by police crashed yesterday evening in north Belfast.

The horror smash happened on the Crumlin Road near the Ardoyne shops just before 7 pm on Tuesday, July 3.

Police said the stolen car was a black Audi A1, reported stolen from Thirlmere Gardens on Sunday morning.

The Police Ombudsman is investigating the circumstances leading up to the collision.

Five people and a child were taken to the Royal Victoria Hospital (RVH) and another was treated at the Mater Hospital shortly after the incident.

Locals said the first they knew something was wrong was when they heard what they thought was an “explosion”.

When they came out investigate they saw the Audi car on its roof and other cars damaged as well.

A child was taken to the Royal Hospital for Sick Children but has since been discharged.

A Belfast Trust spokeswoman said of the five casualties taken to the RVH, one man was critical, two men and a woman were stable and another has been discharged.

A man taken to the Mater Hospital is in a stable condition.

One car overturned in the collision, and part of the road has been closed.

Superintendent Muir Clarke added: “The matter has been referred to the Police Ombudsman’s Office who are currently investigating the circumstances leading up to the collision.

“It would therefore be inappropriate to comment further pending the outcome of that investigation.”

It is the second investigation by the Ombudsman’s office relating to the police pursuit of stolen cars in  north Belfast recently.

In April police were chasing a stolen car also taken from the Cavehill Road area before it crashed hitting and killing Belfast mum Lisa Gow on the Ballysillan Road.

SDLP councillor Paul McCusker described last night’s crash scene as one of  “carnage”.

“I would ask everyone to be patient while the road remains closed and to give the emergency services space to do their job,” he said.