A fire chief has issued a stark warning to drivers to take more care after fire crews attended five death crashes in the space of 17 days in January.

Three of the fatalities occurred in the Bradford district, the other two in Otley.

Firefighters were called to more than 70 crashes across West Yorkshire last month.

Last year, the brigade rescued twice as many people from road accidents as they did from fires.

Assistant Chief Fire Officer Craig McIntosh, director of fire safety, said yesterday: “It’s really important that drivers take extra care, especially during severe weather conditions.”

“Many of the road traffic collisions we have attended could have been prevented. As front-line responders, our officers see first-hand the devastation and injuries caused by collisions.”

The fatal accidents attended by fire crews last month were: l January 8: Sadakat Ali, 59, of Great Horton, Bradford, a pedestrian who died after an accident with a Vauxhall Corsa car at Four Lane Ends, Bradford. The Corsa driver was arrested and later released on police bail pending further inquiries.

l January 13: Christopher Wallace, 20, of Queensbury, who died when a Ford Focus went out of control and crashed into a building in, Buttershaw, Bradford. Another man in the car suffered extensive injuries.

l January 23: Sayeed Iqbal, 20, of Keighley, died when a Seat Leon he was driving crashed in South Street, Keighley, while being pursued by police. Three other teenagers in the car, two aged 16 and one 15, were injured.

l January 24: Keith Harrison, 73, of Otley, died after his Volvo car crashed into a tree in Farnley Lane, Farnley, Otley.

l January 25: Matthew Norman, 18, of Horsforth, died when a Peugeot car he was in crashed in Otley Old Road, Bramhope, shortly after police called off a pursuit. Two other people in the car were injured.

Mr McIntosh urged drivers to slow down especially in bad weather when reduced visibility makes driving hazardous and when tyres are wet and have far less grip than on dry roads.

l A 20-year-old man was in a serious condition in Bradford Royal Infirmary last night after he was struck by a car shortly before 1am yesterday.

Two 21-year-old men were arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving following the incident, which occurred in Longside Lane at about 12.45am.

One man had been driving a purple Toyota Corolla and the other a silver Mercedes-Benz coupe.

Anyone with information about the vehicles’ movements before the accident should contact PC Faiz Alam via 0845 6060606.