A MAN and two teenage girls who died when the car they were in collided with a lorry have been identified by police.

The driver has been named as Andrew James Clark, 43, from Swalwell, and his passengers were Jennifer Fradgley and Kaitlin Tremlett, both 17 and from Gateshead.

They died on Fellside Road in Whickham, Gateshead, at 2.20am on Wednesday, when the black Mercedes they were in collided with a curtain-sided DAF wagon.

The lorry driver was not injured and has not been arrested. Police have said he is being treated as a witness.

Emergency services attended but Mr Clark and the two girls were pronounced dead at the scene.

Police have launched an investigation and are urging people with information to come forward.

Officers believe the Mercedes may have been in the area around the Metro Centre earlier that evening and are trying to piece together what happened before the fatal crash.

A spokesman for Northumbria Police said: “Our thoughts are with the friends and families of those involved in this tragic incident.”

Enquiries are ongoing into the collision and anyone with any information that could help police with their investigation is asked to contact them on 101 quoting reference number 92 10/08/16.