A 17-YEAR-old girl died on her birthday when the car she was travelling in hit a stone wall.

Estelle Thompson was a front-seat passenger in the Ford Ka being driven in Manchester Road, Hapton, when the accident happened at 5.40am on Sunday.

No other vehicles were believed to have been involved.

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The 18-year-old driver of the silver 11 plate car was taken to Royal Preston Hospital for checks but was not injured, police said.

Coun Joanne Greenwood, who represents the Hapton with Park ward, said: “It is such a sad thing to happen. It is awful, just terrible.

“I have kids myself and my thoughts are with her family.

“I cannot imagine how they must be feeling.”

Miss Thompson, from Burnley, and the driver were travelling towards Padiham when the car collided with a stone wall just past the humpback canal bridge, near The Stables.

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It is also believed that the vehicle caught fire with crews from Burnley and Accrington fire stations called. Police said Miss Thompson suffered multiple injuries and died at the scene. The road was closed for several hours.

A Home Office post-mortem examination will be carried out to establish the exact cause of death.

Elizabeth Keaton, who walks her two-year-old son Logan to nursery along Manchester Road, said: “There was an incident last Saturday where a car left the road and ended up in a field.

“There were police everywhere but I don’t think anyone was hurt.”

Walter Greenwood, who lives in nearby Water Street, said: “There was someone killed on this road just a few years ago.

“It’s a dangerous road and I don’t know what you can do about it.”

Sgt Finn Quainton, of the road policing unit, said: “This is a tragic incident and my thoughts are with Estelle’s family and friends.

“An investigation is under way and I would appeal to anybody that witnessed this collision, who saw the car involved in the moments before the collision, or who has any information that could assist with our investigation to contact us.”

Anyone with information should contact police on 101 quoting log number 0420 of July 20.

l An 18-year-old man from Burnley was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and was in custody yesterday afternoon.