Suspect hands himself in to police after two killed in crash in Hanham, South Gloucestershire

A COUPLE, who were both cyclists, were left dying in the street after a horrific accident in a normally peaceful village on the outskirts of Bristol.

A search was launched for the suspected driver of the car but he handed himself into police several hours later and was under arrest last night.

The driver abandoned the car minutes after the incident which took place shortly before 4pm on Lower Hanham Road.

Officers were quizzing the 38-year-old suspect last night at a Bristol police station but were still appealing for anyone who saw the fatal crash to contact them.

A statement from Avon and Somerset Police said:  "At around 4pm today, a vehicle collided with two cyclists on Lower Hanham road. The man and a woman died at the scene as a result of their injuries.

"The road currently remains closed and investigations continue. A 38-year-old man who left the scene of the collision has handed himself in at a police station and has been arrested."

A spokesperson for Avon and Somerset Police said:  "Police were called to a single vehicle road traffic collision on Lower Hanham Road at about 3.50pm in the  afternoon.

"The car was in collision with two cyclists. The driver left the car and fled the scene of the incident. A man and a woman both died as a result of injuries sustained.

"Collision investigators are currently at the scene and officers are working to locate the driver. We would appeal to anyone who witnessed this collision to contact us on 101."

Paramedics were amongst the first to arrive at the scene  but could do nothing to save the couple.

A spokesperson for the ambulance service said: "We took the call at 4pm reporting that a car had hit two cyclists, a male and a female. We sent an ambulance, paramedics, a rapid response vehicle and had an officer at the scene to liaise with the other services.

"But unfortunately both the patients were beyond help at the scene."