Man Dies After Police Pursuit, Two Women Injured in Stratford Crash
A man died and two women were critically injured when a car crashed following a police pursuit near Stratford-upon-Avon on Monday.
A man has died and two women have been seriously injured following a police pursuit that concluded with a collision near Stratford-upon-Avon on Monday evening. The incident occurred shortly before 17:45 BST when officers attempted to stop a black Audi on Birmingham Road. The driver of the Audi failed to stop, initiating a pursuit.
Fifteen minutes after the pursuit began, the Audi collided with a white Ford Puma. Paramedics attended the scene and confirmed the male driver of the Audi had died. The driver of the Ford, a woman in her 70s, sustained life-threatening injuries and was taken to hospital. A female passenger in the Ford also suffered serious injuries, though these were not believed to be life-threatening. Another occupant of the Ford sustained minor injuries.
During the pursuit, the Audi reportedly travelled towards the A46 before returning towards Stratford on the A439 Warwick Road, where the fatal crash took place. Police confirmed that a number of other vehicles were damaged during the chase. The West Midlands Ambulance Service stated that crews provided advanced life support to the man driving the Audi, but he was pronounced deceased at the scene.
An independent investigation into the circumstances of the collision has been launched by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC). Warwickshire Police stated that a mandatory referral was made to the IOPC due to the death occurring after police contact. The force has pledged full cooperation with the watchdog's inquiry.
Superintendent Steve Flavell of Warwickshire Police expressed his condolences to the families involved and confirmed that specialist support is being provided. The IOPC confirmed that its investigators attended the scene and the police post-incident operation to gather initial information. They stated that the driver of the Audi failed to stop for officers and was pursued for approximately six minutes before the collision.
The A439 Warwick Road remains closed between the Marraway roundabout and its junction with Ingon Lane and Sand Barn Lane, with drivers advised to seek alternative routes. Police anticipate the road closure will remain in place for some time.
In a separate note, it was mentioned that road safety improvements were carried out on Warwick Road two years prior. These included the implementation of a one-way system, a reduced speed limit, and a protected turning lane at the Ingon Lane junction, along with enhanced street lighting. The aim of these works was to reduce the number of crashes in the area.
The IOPC's investigation is currently in its early stages, and further details are expected as information is gathered and reviewed.
This article was written by AI based on publicly available news reporting. Original reporting by the linked source.
