Probe after two dead in police pursuit

TWO MEN have died after a car crashed into a barrier during a police pursuit in West Yorkshire in the early hours of yesterday.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has launched an investigation following the crash, which happened in Brighouse shortly after 1am after a West Yorkshire Police vehicle started pursuing the car in the town centre.

A statement from the force confirmed the car crashed into a road barrier on Bradford Road. Two men in the car, believed to have been aged in their 20s, died.

The IOPC’s regional director, Miranda Biddle, said: “This is a tragic incident and my thoughts are with the men’s family and friends and all those affected, including the emergency services in attendance.

“We sent investigators to the scene and to the post-incident procedures, where the two officers in the police vehicle provided statements to us.

“It is mandatory, when someone dies following police contact, that the matter is referred to the IOPC. Our role is to establish and examine the circumstances of what happened – this work is already under way, and West Yorkshire Police is co-operating fully with our inquiries.”

Pictures posted online from the scene showed a badly damaged red car surrounded by police vehicles. The wreckage was later lifted onto a lorry and Calderdale Council confirmed the road had reopened.

The West Yorkshire force said the incident had been referred to the IOPC due to the involvement of a police vehicle in the circumstances leading up to the collision.