Man dies in crash after police pursuit

Key Takeaways

• Image source, Jacqui AnneImage caption, A photo taken after the collision on the A439 Warwick Road showed the police responseByPhil MackieAnnie Delane
• Officers tried to stop a black Audi on Birmingham Road shortly before 17:30 BST on Monday but the driver failed to pull over, Warwickshire Police said
• A pursuit began and 15 minutes later the Audi crashed into a white Ford Puma, the force added, with the Audi's 19-year-old male driver confirmed dead
• The driver of the Ford, a woman, was seriously injured and remains in hospital in critical condition, while injuries to a second woman - her passenger
• An investigation by the police watchdog is under way

Image source, Jacqui Anne

Image caption,

A photo taken after the collision on the A439 Warwick Road showed the police response

ByPhil MackieAnnie DelaneyReporting fromin Stratford and Shannen HeadleyWest Midlands

Updated 3 hours ago

A man has died and two women have been injured in a crash after a police pursuit near Stratford-upon-Avon.

Officers tried to stop a black Audi on Birmingham Road shortly before 17:30 BST on Monday but the driver failed to pull over, Warwickshire Police said.

A pursuit began and 15 minutes later the Audi crashed into a white Ford Puma, the force added, with the Audi's 19-year-old male driver confirmed dead at the scene by paramedics.

The driver of the Ford, a woman, was seriously injured and remains in hospital in critical condition, while injuries to a second woman - her passenger - were serious but not believed to be life-threatening. An investigation by the police watchdog is under way.

Officers said after failing to stop, the Audi made off in the direction of the A46 before travelling back towards Stratford on the A439 Warwick Road where the crash occurred.

A number of other cars were damaged during the pursuit, police said.

Warwick Road was closed on Monday from the Marraway roundabout to its junction with Ingon Lane and Sand Barn Lane, with the stretch remaining shut on Tuesday morning.

It has since reopened.

Image source, Jacqui Anne

Image caption,

The road was blocked by emergency crews after the collision had occurred

A spokesperson for West Midlands Ambulance Service said paramedics found four patients in total at the scene.

They included a man who was in a critical condition to whom crews gave advanced life support.

"Despite their best efforts, it became clear that nothing more could be done to save him and he was confirmed deceased by ambulance staff at the scene," the spokesperson said.

A woman who was driving the second car suffered life-threatening injuries, the ambulance service confirmed, and was taken to hospital in a critical condition. She was said by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) to be in her 70s.

A female passenger in the vehicle was also seriously hurt and taken to hospital, although her condition was not thought by the ambulance service to be life-threatening.

Injuries to another patient from the car were not believed to be serious.

Supt Steve Flavell said: "Our thoughts are with the families of everyone involved in this collision and we're providing specialist support to them at this extremely difficult time.

Image caption,

Several cars were involved in the crash, said police

"We made a mandatory referral to the IOPC because a death had occurred following police contact.

"They have declared an independent investigation and we will co-operate fully with their investigation."

The IOPC said the investigation was at an early stage and confirmed its officials attended the police's post-incident operation to gather information.

"We understand the driver of a black Audi A3 failed to stop for police and was then pursued for around six minutes before the vehicle was involved in a collision with a car being driven by a member of the public," a spokesperson said.

Manuela Perteghella, Liberal Democrat MP for Stratford-on-Avon, said the incdent was "incredibly tragic".

"My thoughts are with the families of all those impacted. We must now let the investigation take its course."

Works were carried out on Warwick Road two years ago, aimed at reducing the number of crashes in the area.

Warwickshire County Council added a one-way system, lowered the speed limit and implemented a protected turning lane at the Ingon Lane junction.

Street lighting was also boosted to improve visibility for crossing pedestrians at Fisherman's Car Park.

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Two women are also hurt and one remains in hospital in critical condition.

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