For ten days, their families clung to hope. Then, on Saturday afternoon, specialist search officers found them – inside a blue Peugeot 106, hidden from view in thick undergrowth off the A584 Preston New Road.
William Hutchinson, 31, and Stuart Tallis, 27, were last seen separately in the early hours of 24 June. Hutchinson was seen leaving an address on Hull Street in Preston; Tallis was spotted in the Fishwick View area around 1.30am. Tallis was reported missing three days later, on 27 June. Officers came to believe the two men may have been together.
“Bodies of William Hutchinson and Stuart Tallis found in crashed car hidden in undergrowth.”
CCTV footage of Hutchinson's blue Peugeot 106 driving along a misty A584 was released by police as they tried to trace the car from Preston. His mother posted a recent picture of him on Facebook, pleading: 'If you have information about William please contact one of his family, friends or the police, thank you. We are so worried about his disappearance.'
But shortly after 12pm on 4 July, specialist officers located the Peugeot off the westbound carriageway, near the junction with the A583 Blackpool Road at Newton with Clifton. The vehicle was 'hidden from view, in thick undergrowth'.
'Sadly, two deceased males were found inside the vehicle,' Lancashire Police said. 'Whilst formal identification is yet to take place, we believe we have found William and Stuart. Their loved ones are aware of the extremely upsetting development and our thoughts are with them at this distressing time. They are being supported by specially-trained officers.'
Police believe the car left the carriageway at roughly 5.30am on 24 June. They are now appealing for any witnesses who saw the blue Peugeot 106 on the A584 Preston New Road in the minutes before that time, and are asking motorists to check their dashcam footage.
Sergeant Martin Wilcock, from the force's Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said: 'Two men have lost their lives in what appears to be extremely tragic circumstances, and my thoughts are very much with their loved ones at this sad time. I know a number of my colleagues were involved in the searches for William and Stuart and I know they were hoping for a happier conclusion.'
Wilcock added: 'My job now is to establish the full circumstances which led to the collision.'