TWO teenage girls were killed when the car they were travelling in careered off the A419 and crashed into a ditch for 'unknown reasons' early this morning.

Wiltshire Police were called by a driver heading south, who had seen a vehicle leave the road while it was travelling north on the A419 just past the junction with the A420 in Swindon at around 5am.

On arrival, officers found a grey Renault Clio with substantial damage in thick undergrowth about 20 metres from the road. No other vehicles were involved.

The driver, an 18-year-old female, was pronounced dead at the scene and the front seat passenger, a 17-year-old female, died shortly after at the Great Western Hospital.

Three male passengers, all aged 20, who were sat in the rear of the car were thrown from the vehicle.

One was taken to GWH and is having surgery. He is in a serious condition.

The other two men were taken to Frenchay Hospital, in Bristol, and are undergoing surgery. They are both in a critical condition.

Those in the car have been named locally as Shaya Leigh, Kerry Staniford, Jordan Gulliver, Jake Gibbons and Harry Livingstone.

PC Jeff Rice said that they were still investigating the circumstances of the accident.

"It is very early stages of the investigation and it is too early to comment on the exact circumstances of the incident.

"If anyone saw the accident or anything in the lead up to it that could help us, we would urge them to get in touch with us via the 101 number.

"Wiltshire Police would like to offer their condolences to the families of those involved."

He also said that a number of friends were arriving at GWH to check on the condition of the injured. The hospital is overwhelmed by the number and he asked that people refrained from doing this.

The Serious Collision Investigation Team carried out skid testing to measure braking distances on the road surface, which was believed to have been dry at the time of the crash.

The A419 northbound is currenly closed between the junction with the A420 to the Turnpike junction at Blunsdon. It is expected to reopen between 2.30pm and 3pm. The southbound carriageway remains open.

Anyone with any information should contact PC Fry of SCIT on 101.