The bodies of two men reported missing more than a week ago have been discovered in a blue Peugeot 106 that crashed off a Lancashire road, hidden from view in thick undergrowth.
William Hutchinson, 31, and Stuart Tallis, 27, were both last seen in the early hours of 24 June in separate areas of Preston. Tallis was reported missing three days later, while Hutchinson's mother had 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."
“Bodies of two missing men, William Hutchinson and Stuart Tallis, found in crashed car hidden in undergrowth off A584 in Lancashire.”
Officers investigating released CCTV footage of the blue Peugeot 106 driving along a misty A584, as they tried to trace the car from Preston. Their search ended shortly after 12pm on 4 July, when specialist search officers found the vehicle off the westbound carriageway of the A584 Preston New Road, close to its junction with the A583 Blackpool Road at Newton with Clifton. The car was "hidden from view, in thick undergrowth", Lancashire Police said.
"Sadly, two deceased males were found inside the vehicle. Whilst formal identification is yet to take place, we believe we have found William and Stuart," a police spokesperson said. Their families have been informed and are being supported by specially trained officers.
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."
Police believe the Peugeot left the carriageway at roughly 5.30am on 24 June, and are appealing for witnesses who saw the car on the A584 Preston New Road in the minutes before that time. They are also asking motorists travelling in the area around that time to check their dashcam footage for anything that could assist the investigation.
"My job now is to establish the full circumstances which led to the collision," Wilcock added. Anyone with information is asked to call 101 or email SCIU@lancashire.police.uk, quoting log 613 of 4 July 2026.