THE brother of a teenager who survived a fatal car crash today spoke of a community's shock following the death of two friends from the same street.

The 19-year-old driver of the car, Ali Hussain, and the front seat passenger Imran Esan Aziz, 22, both of Randal Street, Blackburn, were killed in the crash at the junction of Preston New Road and Shear Bank Road.

Police who were following saw the red VW Golf crash into a wall at about 12.40am yesterday..

Back seat passenger Waseem Mohammed, 19, also of Randal Street, was taken to Blackburn Infirmary with minor injuries, but was later released and quizzed by police.

Today Nadeem Mohammed, 25, who lives with his brother, spoke of the family's shock.

He said: "They all grew up together five doors apart and were all in the same age group so they were close friends. I think they had been to Lancaster to pick up a friend from work."

Waseem is said to be suffering from whiplash, knee and shoulder injuries.

Residents of Randal Street said they were deeply shocked by what had happened.

Lancashire Police have voluntarily referred the incident to the Police Complaints Authority who have launched an own investigation.

Police said the incident began after officers patrolling in a personnel carrier spotted the car pulling out from a lay-by on Preston New Road near the junction with Beardwood at about 12.30am on Wednesday morning.

Police turned the van round and pulled into the lay by to stop the car but it had pulled away towards Blackburn.

Police said as officers began to follow the car up the hill towards Blackburn town centre the vehicle sped off, driving erratically and through a red traffic light.

The officers said they saw the vehicle crash into the wall at the bottom of Shear Bank Road.