Tragedy as missing men discovered dead in thick undergrowth | UK | News
lost men (Image: Lancashire Police)
The bodies of two men reported missing were found in a crashed vehicle on the A584.
William Hutchinson, 31, and Stuart Tallis, 27, who were last seen in the early hours of Wednesday, June 24, were separately reported missing. Police had not previously identified the two men as acquaintances.
At the weekend officers released CCTV footage of William’s Peugeot 106 traveling on the A584 and confirmed the vehicle had been found. The vehicle, hidden in bushes, crashed onto the westbound carriageway of the A584 near the junction of Clifton and the A583 Blackpool Road in Newton. reports LancsLive.
In a statement, Lancashire Police said: “We have an extremely sad update on our search for two men who were separately reported missing from their homes in Preston and we would like your help in locating them.
“William Hutchinson, 31, was last seen at an address in Hull Street, Preston, in the early hours of Wednesday, June 24. He was believed to have left the area in a blue Peugeot 106.”,
“Stuart Tallis, 27, was last seen in the Fishwick View area of Preston at around 1.30am on June 24 and was reported missing on June 27.
“Enquiries have led our officers to believe William and Stuart may have been together and officers are actively investigating to find them.
“As a result of these investigations, shortly after 12pm yesterday (4 July) William’s blue Peugeot 106 was located by specialist search officers, hidden from view, in thick bush off the westbound carriageway of the A584 Preston New Road, near the junction of the A583 Blackpool Road at Newton and Clifton.
“Unfortunately, two men were found dead in the vehicle. Although formal identification has not yet been made, we believe we have found William and Stuart.
“Their relatives are aware of this extremely saddening development and our thoughts are with them at this troubling time. They are being supported by specially trained staff.
“As part of our ongoing investigation, we are appealing for any witnesses who saw a blue Peugeot 106 on the A584 Preston New Road in the minutes before 5.30am on June 24 to contact police as soon as possible. We believe this is the time the Peugeot left the carriageway.
“We are also asking motorists traveling in the area at the time to check their dashcam footage to see if they have captured anything that could assist our investigation.”
Sergeant Martin Wilcock, of the Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said: “Two men have lost their lives in what appears to be an extremely tragic incident and my thoughts are with their loved ones at this sad time. “I know a number of my colleagues have joined the search for William and Stuart and I know they hope for a happier outcome.
“My job now is to establish the full circumstances leading up to the collision and I would therefore ask any witnesses who may assist the investigation, or anyone with CCTV or dashcam footage, to contact my officers.”
Contact officers by emailing SCIU@lancashire.police.uk or calling 101 quoting log 613 of 4 July 2026.
