POLICE have launched an investigation after a car with three teenage boys inside crashed into a tree.

One of the boys - who are all understood to be either 12 or 13 years old - is thought to have been driving the Renault Megane.

The car had been reported stolen from an address in Surrey.

Now both Hampshire and Surrey police forces have launched a criminal investigation.

Hampshire police have also referred the case to the Independent Office for Police Conduct.

The incident on Leigh Road on September 3 left four people injured.

A woman was taken to hospital while the three teenagers were treated for minor injuries.

The collision happened on the junction with Bill Luffman Way.

Four ambulances rushed to the scene at around 11.34pm.

Two pumps from Eastleigh fire station went to the scene, where police were already in attendance.

One resident who did not want to be named said: “It woke us up. We had just gone to bed. All of a sudden there was a big crash. We looked out the window and there was a car embedded in that tree. There were police everywhere immediately. There was a second car on the other side of the road immobile. Then ambulances came.

“One guy was laid out on the pavement for a long time. We could hear him shouting because he said he was cold. The car was embedded in the tree- you couldn’t see any signage to see what make it was.”

A spokesperson for the Independent Office for Police Conduct said: "There were three people in the car that crashed. They were all young lads.

"It's not absolutely determined as to who was driving but the car was being propelled.

"They are all well and truly below the age of an adult.

"We were informed of the incident by Hampshire Police on September 4. We launched an investigation around about midday. Our investigation is into circumstances surrounding police involvement prior to the crash."

A spokesperson for Hampshire police said: "The Megane had been reported as stolen from Portsmouth Road, Godalming, Surrey. It had been stolen at sometime between 10.45pm on 1 September and 9.40am on 2 September. The theft is being investigated jointly with Surrey Police.

"A Hampshire Constabulary investigation is ongoing in relation to a number of alleged driving offences."