IOPC investigates after man dies following Warwickshire police pursuit
The IOPC has launched an investigation after a man died and a woman was critically injured when a car being pursued by police crashed near Stratford.
Warwickshire Police said officers attempted to stop a black Audi on Birmingham Road at around 5.23pm on Monday. The driver failed to stop and travelled towards the A46 before turning back towards Stratford along the A439 Warwick Road.
The Audi was involved in a collision with a Ford Puma, with the male driver of the Audi dying at the scene.
The driver of the Ford, a woman in her 70s, was taken to hospital with critical injuries. A female passenger suffered serious but non-life-threatening injuries. A number of other vehicles were also damaged in the incident.
Warwickshire Police has made a mandatory referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct because the death occurred following police contact.
The IOPC has declared an independent investigation and will examine the circumstances surrounding the pursuit and subsequent collision.
Superintendent 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.”
He added that the force would “co-operate fully” with the IOPC investigation.
The A439 Warwick Road remains closed while the investigation into the collision continues. The incident comes just days after seven people, including two police officers, were killed in a crash on the A66 following a police pursuit in Cleveland. The IOPC is also investigating that incident.