AN inquiry has been launched after a boy in council care was killed in a car crash in the early hours of the morning.

Shane Cook, 13, from Darwen, died after the Ford Orion car he was travelling in careered off the road at Samlesbury and crashed into trees at around 1.30am yesterday.

A 24-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving, drink driving and driving while disqualified and released on police bail pending further inquiries.

Shane, who lived at council-run children's home in Anchor Avenue, Darwen, was treated at the scene by paramedics but later died in Royal Preston Hospital of head injuries.

Blackburn with Darwen Council runs the community home. Executive member for social services, Coun Sue Reid, said there would be an inquiry launched into Shane's death and what he was doing out in the early hours.

Four other people, all from Blackburn, were injured in the accident as the car was travelling towards Preston on the A677 Preston New Road, close to the former Little Chef restaurant near the junction with the A59.

Two other passengers Amanda Whipp, 16, of Heatley Close, and Damien Thompson, 18, of Taylor Street, are being treated at Royal Preston Hospital for serious head injuries, which are said not to be life-threatening.

Karl Thompson, 24, of Taylor Street, and Gary Steele, 17, of Railton Avenue, both suffered minor cuts and bruises.

Coun Reid said: "It's very sad a young boy should die in this tragic way. In these circumstances, there is always an inquiry led by an independent person from a child protection team who will look into whether all the appropriate procedures were followed."

Inspector Stef Carroll, of Lancashire Police, said: "The car has left the road on the near side colliding with a number of trees, coming to rest on the near side verge.

"When police arrived, the five occupants of the car were all out of the vehicle being treated by paramedics.

"The road was closed for several hours while accident investigators attended to find out the circumstances leading up to the accident."

Officers were out in Blackburn yesterday tracing relatives of the people injured in the crash.

Lancashire Police would like witnesses who saw the car before, during or after the collision to contact them on 01772 614444 quoting log number 28EQ March 16.

The home in Anchor Avenue holds between five and ten children, mostly boys, and has been in existence for more than a decade. Residents today said the children had not caused them any problems.

One, who wished to remain anonymous, said: "There's been boys hanging around, but never any trouble."

Councillor Mike Barrett, Earcroft Ward, said: "The home provides good quality care to vulnerable young people. What's happened is a tragedy."