Police have quizzed a 16-year-old boy and a 17-year-old youth about a street disturbance between students moments before a car carrying three teenagers hit a lorry leaving one of them with critical injuries.

The arrested boy, who attends Shipley College in Saltaire, is believed to have been trying to climb into the silver Vauxhall Astra as it drove along Exhibition Road.

Detectives were today continuing to piece together events which led to the Astra crashing into a Volvo goods lorry travelling along Saltaire Road at 1.50pm on Monday.

A 19-year-old front-seat passenger, also a Shipley College student, who has not been named by police, had to be cut from the car by Shipley firefighters.

He remains in a critical but stable condition in Leeds General Infirmary.

The 17-year-old driver was arrested after being released from hospital. A third passenger and the 36-year-old lorry driver were unhurt.

Detective Inspector John Mountain, of Keighley CID, said: "A youth has been arrested on suspicion of assault. He was trying to get into the front seat of the car. He was at Shipley College that day and was arrested after information we received.

"This is being investigated as a road traffic accident. It is possible that there are some contributory factors but we are still pulling it all together.

"There seems to have been trouble brewing at the college during the day."

Shipley College principal Jean McAllister said: "We are relieved to have been informed that our student who was seriously injured in the traffic accident is in a stable condition.

"Everyone is pulling together at this difficult time, as you would expect in a small, close-knit place like Shipley College."

Both arrested teenagers have been released on police bail pending further inquiries.

Police are appealing for information about the incident, which took place near Shipley Fire Station in Saltaire Road, at its junction with Exhibition Road.

Witnesses should call PC Philip Day on (01535) 617047 or 0845 606060.