Watchdog announce probe after death of teenage girl following crash in police chase on March 28
A 19-year-old woman who was seriously injured in a police chase in Streatham on March 29 has died and the police watchdog has announced it will investigate.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct is now appealing for witnesses as it investigates the circumstances of the deadly crash which left five people in hospital.
The Metropolitan Police also launched an investigation after their car collided with a lamppost during the pursuit.
The crash occurred during the early hours of Sunday morning a week ago, March 28 after police told the drivers of the car to stop in Streatham Common Northside. The car ignored officers’ instructions and a pursuit began.
The car collided with a lamppost in nearby Greyhound Lane, Streatham, a short time later and paramedics and firefighters were called.
The driver and four passengers of the car, all women, were rushed to hospital for treatment where one died on March 30.
Three women, including a teenager, remain in a critical condition in hospital after their car collided with a lamppost during a police pursuit.
The five occupants of the car had been taken to hospital for treatment. Two women were still in hospital and two other women have been discharged from hospital.
They were arrested in connection with the incident, along with two of the women in hospital.
The Directorate of Professional Standards has been informed.
IOPC Regional Director Sal Naseem said: “Our thoughts are with the family of this woman and all those affected by this tragic incident.
“We have made contact with the family of the woman who has died and those of the two seriously injured women, to explain our role and how our investigation will progress.
“We need to understand what happened and we are appealing for anyone who witnessed events last Sunday morning to contact us to help with our independent investigation.
“There is a mandatory requirement for forces to refer to us incidents like this which result in death or serious injury.
“Our investigation will thoroughly examine the circumstances and whether appropriate policies and procedures were followed. We will seek to establish, among other things, whether or not the police were actively pursuing the vehicle.”
Witnesses and anyone with any relevant mobile phone or dashcam footage are asked to contact the IOPC by phone on 0300 3035736 or by email at GreyhoundLane@policeconduct.
Initial accounts have been provided by the officers involved and we are gathering police radio transmissions, and police body worn video footage. CCTV is also being gathered from the area of the incident.