A man has died and a woman in her 70s suffered serious injuries after two cars collided following a six-minute police chase.
Officers chased a black Audi near Stratford-upon-Avon in Warwickshire last night before it crashed into a white Ford Puma.
The driver of the Audi initially failed to stop for police officers before fleeing the scene and driving towards Stratford. The car then collided with the Ford after the six-minute chase.
Two ambulances, three paramedics and two air ambulances were sent to the scene of the accident.
The 19-year-old male Audi driver was pronounced dead, while the female driver of the Ford was taken to hospital with serious injuries. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said she was in her 70s.
Both families have been informed and are being supported by specialist officers.
Road closures are in place after an Audi being chased by police crashed into another car on the A439 in Warwickshire
An air ambulance is seen near the scene of the accident that left one man dead and another woman seriously injured
A second woman, who was a passenger in the Ford, also suffered serious but non-life-threatening injuries. She and a fourth person, who suffered minor injuries, were taken to hospital.
Several other vehicles were also damaged during the chase.
The Audi was first noticed by the police Birmingham Road shortly before 5:25 p.m., before fleeing Stratford on the A439, Warwickshire Police said. The car then collided with the white Ford following the chase around 5:44 p.m.
Road closures are still in force, with the A439 closed from the Marraway roundabout to the junction with Ingon Lane and at Sandbanks Lane.
The IOPC has started an investigation.
The Liberal Democrat MP for Stratford-upon-Avon, Manuela Perteghella, said the incident was ‘incredibly tragic news’, adding: ‘My thoughts are with the families of all those affected. We must now let the investigation take its course.’
It comes days after an accident on the A66 in Teesside following a pursuit that left two police officers and all five occupants of the target vehicle dead. Other than in that case, there is currently no question that the driver of the Audi drove on the wrong side of the road for an extended period of time.
Chief Inspector Steve Flavell said: “Our thoughts are with the families of everyone involved in this collision and we are offering them specialist support at this extremely difficult time.
‘We made a mandatory referral to the IOPC because there had been a death following contact with the police. They have declared an independent investigation and we will fully cooperate with their investigation.”
A spokesman for West Midlands Ambulance Service said: ‘On arrival we found four patients. First of all, a man who was the driver of the first car who was in critical condition. He received advanced life support and advanced trauma care at the scene.
‘Despite their best efforts, it became clear that nothing more could be done to save him and he was confirmed deceased by paramedics at the scene.
“Secondly, a woman who was the driver of the second car was assessed and suffered life-threatening injuries. She received advanced trauma care from paramedics at the scene before being transported by air ambulance to University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire for further treatment.
“The second woman, who was a passenger in the second car, suffered potentially serious injuries that were not believed to be life-threatening. She was treated at the scene before being transported overland to Warwickshire Hospital.”
‘A fourth patient suffered injuries that were not believed to be serious and was taken to Warwick Hospital for further assessment.’
A spokesperson for the IOPC said their investigation into the involvement of Warwickshire Police prior to the fatal collision was at an early stage.
They said: ‘We were notified by police at 7.40pm and IOPC investigators attended police proceedings following the incident to begin gathering information. At 9:38 p.m. we declared an independent investigation.
‘We understand that the driver of a black Audi A3 failed to stop for police and was subsequently chased for approximately six minutes before the vehicle was involved in a collision with a car driven by a member of the public.’
