POLICE have launched an investigation after a 17-year-old man was killed after the stolen van he was travelling in crashed on the M1 motorway.

The smash happened around 10.50 pm on Wednesday night.

The transit van collided with a barrier between the Blaris and Saintfield junctions.

It is thought that the van had been stolen in the Republic of Ireland earlier that evening.

His death brings to 21 the number of people killed on Northern Ireland’a roads so far this year.

Officers investigating the collision have seized a red Ford Mondeo, thought to have been travelling with the van, from an address in Lagmore, on the outskirts of west Belfast.

Inspector Wilson from the PSNI’s Collision Investigation Unit has appealed for witnesses to come forward.

“We would like to hear from anyone who saw either the silver Transit van or the Mondeo car on the M1 or A1 prior to the time of the collision to call us on 101

“I would like to thank the public for their assistance and patience at the scene last night.”

The M1 motorway was closed for a time but has since reopened.