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Stratford pursuit crash
A man died and a woman was left critically injured after a police pursuit in Warwickshire near Stratford-upon-Avon, when officers tried to stop a black Audi on Birmingham Road and the driver failed to pull over.
“Officers tried to stop a black Audi on Birmingham Road shortly before 17:30 BST on Monday”
The Audi then made off in the direction of the A46 before travelling back towards Stratford on the A439 Warwick Road, where it collided with a white Ford Puma at 5.44pm on Monday.
Warwickshire Police said the male driver of the Audi was confirmed dead at the scene by paramedics, while the Ford driver was taken to hospital in critical condition.
The crash followed a pursuit that lasted for around six minutes, and police said a number of other vehicles were damaged during the chase.
Watchdog opens probe
Warwickshire Police made a mandatory referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) because a death occurred following police contact, and Supt Steve Flavell said: "We made a mandatory referral to the IOPC because a death had occurred following police contact."
The IOPC said it was notified by the force at 7.40pm and that investigators attended the police post-incident procedure to begin gathering information, before declaring an independent investigation at 9.38pm.
The IOPC also said it was appealing for any car footage of the pursuit that other motorists may have recorded, and it provided a contact number and email address for submissions.
West Midlands Ambulance Service said paramedics found four patients in total at the scene, including a man in a critical condition who was confirmed deceased by ambulance staff despite advanced life support.
Road closures and aftermath
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 before later reopening.
“Warwick Road was closed on Monday from the Marraway roundabout”
The BBC reported that the crash occurred after the Audi failed to stop and then travelled back towards Stratford on the A439 Warwick Road, where it struck the Ford Puma.
A spokesperson for the IOPC said the investigation was at an early stage, and the watchdog said it was seeking footage from motorists who may have recorded the pursuit.
Liberal Democrat MP for Stratford-on-Avon Manuela Perteghella said the incident was "incredibly tragic" and called for the investigation to take its course.