Injured police chase youth fights for life
TWO ARRESTS AFTER STINGER DEVICE USED
A LAD of 15 continues to fight for life on Tyneside after the car he was in was hit by another vehicle being pursued by police.
A white Vauxhall Astra crashed headon into a Vauxhall Corsa after officers deployed a stinger to puncture its tyres during the pursuit in County Durham on Sunday.
The boy in the back seat of the Astra suffered life-threatening head injuries and he remains in Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary in a critical condition.
It is alleged that the driver and front seat passenger of the Astra left the scene after the crash.
Two teenage boys were later arrested on suspicion of causing serious injury through dangerous driving. One boy, 15, was later released without charge, while a 16-year-old was released under investigation.
The driver of the Corsa suffered minor injuries.
Durham Constabulary says the Astra failed to stop for police in Broom Road, Ferryhill, at 8.37pm, sparking a fourminute car chase before the collision on the A167 Sunderland Bridge, south of Newton Aycliffe.
A force spokeswoman said: “An officer pursued the car for a short period of time before a stinger device was successfully used to deflate the tyres in Sunderland Bridge at 8.41pm.
“The car then pulled out on to the A167 and collided with another vehicle – a Vauxhall Corsa – which was travelling northbound.”
Appealing for witnesses, the police spokeswoman added: “Police are appealing for anyone who may have witnessed the collision, or who may have seen the Astra on the roads prior to the incident. Anyone with any information is asked to ring 101 and ask for the collision investigation unit.”
Durham Constabulary has referred the matter to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC).