Driver survives police chase horror crash
A PASSENGER in a car being chased by police died when it ploughed at high speed into a bus stop in the early hours of Christmas morning.
The BMW was almost completely destroyed but incredibly the driver survived – and was immediately arrested at the scene.
Wreckage and glass were strewn across the road following the 4.35am crash, which woke nearby residents.
It is believed the car was catapulted into a set of traffic lights after going out of control and hitting the bus stop.
It came to rest near a row of shops and a Salvation Army building in the Old Swan area of Liverpool.
The passenger, a man in his 30s, died after being taken to hospital.
Neither he nor the driver had been identified yesterday.
Tensions
One resident said the noise of the impact was so loud it woke her young daughter.
Another, surveying the roofless and doorless remains of the car, sobbed: “Oh my God, on Christmas Day – how awful.”
The road, one of the busiest routes into the city, was cordoned off for most of the day to allow investigations to be carried out.
A Merseyside Police spokesman said the BMW crashed after a “short police pursuit” and that inquiries were continuing.
Following normal protocol, the drama was referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission.
The reason for the police pursuit was not clear but tensions in the city have been heightened in the run-up to Christmas.
Last week there were three shootings in 30 hours and another car being chased by police smashed into a number of vehicles on a busy road.
An Independent Police Complaints Commission spokesman said: “We were notified of a fatal road traffic incident in Liverpool this morning by Merseyside Police.
“We have begun an independent investigation as initial information suggests the collision was preceded by a short police pursuit.
“We have deployed an investigator to the scene and police post-incident procedures.”
Police appealed to any witnesses to the crash to contact Roads Policing Officers on 0151 777 5747 or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.