Police have released the names of three people - including a 12-year-old girl - who died in a car crash.

Samantha Arnold, from Leicester’s Eyres Monsell estate, died in hospital following the collision under the bridge, in Lubbesthorpe Way, Braunstone, on Saturday night.

Father and son Michael Stannett, 53, from Whetstone, and 26-year-old David Stannett, from Kirby Muxloe, died at the scene of the collision.

Samantha’s 35-year-old mother is in a “serious but stable” condition at Leicester Royal Infirmary, and her 15-year-old sister’s condition has been described as “stable”

The three-car crash took place at 8.19pm on Saturday.

The crash happened when a Toyota Celica, travelling along Lubbesthorpe Way towards the A47, veered across the carriageway. It collided with a Chrysler Voyager people carrier and a Vauxhall Corsa, which were both travelling in the opposite direction.

People living nearby said they heard a loud bang and rushed out of their homes to see what had happened.

Many of them rang the emergency services from their mobile phones after witnessing the aftermath of the smash, which happened at 8.19pm on Saturday.

Zoe Wright, 24, of Hand Avenue, said: “I heard a massive bang, like thunder. It shook the whole house. I ran outside and saw there had been a crash. “People were out there on their phones calling ambulances. It looked very bad. One car had hit the wall. I knew people had died. It was terrible.”

Another woman, who left her Hand Avenue home to find out what had happened, said: “There had been a really big smash. It was a right mess. I couldn’t sleep last night thinking about what had happened.”

The road was closed until 5am while the emergency services dealt with the collision. Yesterday, a pile of broken glass on the verge and yellow police markings following the tyre tracks of the cars were the only visible reminders of what had happened.

Betty Whitfield, 81, of Hand Avenue, said: “I heard such a big bang. I was scared, I didn’t want to go outside as I’m disabled. “I saw the flashing lights of the police cars and ambulances on the bridge for ages. It’s a terrible thing to have happened.”

A neighbour added: “There was this merciful bang. It’s so awful. There were a lot of people there all night. It’s just dreadful that three people have died, such a tragedy.”

Pensioner Walter Fairall, of Braunstone Lane, said: “The police blocked the road off and were moving people away from the area. To know that people have been killed is terrible.”

Sergeant Ivan Stafford, who is investigating the incident, said: “This is a terrible tragedy that has left three people dead including a young girl. “We have spoken to a number of people who witnessed the incident to try to piece together exactly what happened. “However, I would ask anyone who saw the Celica in the area just prior to the incident or who witnessed the collision to come forward.”

Anyone with any information can contact police on 0116 222 2222.