A YOUNG man has died and elderly residents have been evacuated after a car smashed into a sheltered housing complex.

Cops are now investigating the crash which happened in Coatbridge in the early hours of Friday morning.

The force said the 20-year-old was driving a Citreon vehicle which was travelling along Hozier Street when it collided with a residential building, containing four flats for the elderly, on Newlands Street. The crash happened at around 4.45am.

A spokeswoman for North Lanarkshire Council said four elderly residents were evacuated after the crash. Three were placed with family members and one was re-housed. 

She said it was hoped that two, would be able to return to their homes later today.

Structural engineers are currently at the scene assessing the damage to the building.

The driver of the car was taken to Monklands hospital where he died a short time later. His family have been informed.

Police Scotland said that the building is currently cordoned off as a precaution.

Sergeant Stuart Bell of Motherwell, Road Policing Unit, said: “Officers are currently checking CCTV and making door to door enquiries in the area, however we are appealing for anyone who may have seen this car prior to the incident taking place to get in contact with us.

“Anyone with information should contact Police via 101, quoting incident number 0620 of Friday 28 December 2018.”