Motorist dies after police deploy stinger

♦a motorist being chased by police died in a collision after a stinger device was deployed in an attempt to stop him.

The man’s Ford Focus hit a Land Rover Freelander as it travelled eastbound between junctions 32 and 30 of the M4 at around 6pm on Saturday.

Police said the driver of the Land Rover suffered non-serious injuries.

The incident comes amid concern about an increase in the number of people killed in police chases.

Before the crash, a stinger – a spiked metal strip used to puncture tyres – was deployed by the police in an attempt to stop the Ford Focus after traffic officers saw the motorist driving dangerously.

The matter is now being investigated by the Independent Police Complaints Commission.

An IPCC spokesman said: “We have an independent investigation under way into a fatal road traffic collision following a police pursuit which happened on the eastbound carriageway of the M4 near the junction 32 Coryton interchange at around 6pm on Saturday evening.

“A man in his 30s was pronounced dead following the incident.

“We understand he was in a Ford Focus which was being pursued by South Wales Police officers when it was in a collision with a Land Rover.

“The driver of that vehicle was taken to hospital after being cut free but was not thought to be seriously injured.”