Four women were killed and two others are fighting for their lives after their car careered off the road in Britain.
They were found in the wreckage by a motorist driving through Woolton, Merseyside, early this morning. Firefighters cut the women free, but two were pronounced dead at the scene.
A third died of a heart attack in the ambulance on her way to Royal Liverpool Hospital and another was declared dead on arrival.
The women were in a black Peugeot 307 when the accident happened.
Inspector Tony Dean, of Merseyside Police, said: "It was a terrible accident which we are beginning to investigate."
He could not confirm the ages or identities of the four dead women.
"Another of the women looks likely to prove fatal and the sixth is in a critical condition," he said.
A fire service spokeswoman said hydraulic cutting equipment was used to free the six women from the car.
Six ambulances and two paramedic fast response units were called to the scene to take the casualties to hospital.
Family liaison officers were this morning comforting the relatives of the victims, and collision experts have begun a full investigation of the scene.
PA