Another teenager, aged 16, who was in the car, is in a critical condition.

Police said they were not in pursuit with the car, which they suspected had been involed in a robbery.

Oficers said they do not know why the car suddenly cashed into a pillar of the viaduct at Butler's Leap in Rugby at 1.30am.

A police spokesperson said today: "Shortly before 1.30hrs a police officer, who was on duty in the area following a report of a robbery, saw a red Toyota Carina with two males on board which he suspected might have been involved in the robbery.

"The officer, who was driving a marked vehicle, started to follow the Toyota.

"For reasons which are not clear, after a very short time the Toyota collided with the central pillar of the viaduct at Butler's Leap.

"No other vehicles were involved.

"The 18-year-old driver and 16-year-old passenger, both males and from Rugby, were taken to the University Hospital of Coventry and Warwickshire with serious injuries.

"The driver has since died and the passenger's condition is said to be critical.

"The identity of the driver will not be released until the formal identification process has been completed and all close relatives informed."

Warwickshire Police has referred the incident to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC).

Officers investigating the incident would like to hear from anyone who has information about thie collision or the earlier robbery which occurred in Lindale, Rugby.

Shortly before 1am, police were called to Lindale where a food delivery driver reported that he had been stopped by two men who pushed him away from his vehicle, a red Toyota Carina, and made off in it.

The delivery driver was not injured, though was shaken by the incident, and made his way to a house and the incident was reported to the police.

Chief Inspector Chris Lewis said: "In the early hours of this morning a police officer who was in the area following a robbery in Lindale saw a red Toyota Carina which he suspected may have been involved and followed it. This was not a pursuit.

"For reasons not known to us at the moment the driver of the Toyota lost control at Butler's Leap and the vehicle collided with the viaduct causing serious injuries to the driver and passenger. Sadly the driver has since died, and our condolences go to his family.

"We would like to hear from anyone who witnessed either the collision or the earlier robbery so that we can determine exactly what happened in the early hours of this morning."

Anyone with information is asked to contact Warwickshire Police on 01926 415000 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.