Passing driver killed in police A1 chase

Jul 19 2008 by Neil McKay, The Journal

INVESTIGATORS were last night continuing to probe the death of a motorist innocently caught up in the police pursuit of a suspected stolen pick-up.

A police driver was trying to bring a stolen Mitsubishi L200 to a halt as it sped north along the A1 motorway in County Durham at around 5.40am yesterday.

But the Mitsubishi driver – a 23-year-old man from Chester-le-Street – swung the wheel away and smashed into the central reservation of the southbound carriageway near Durham City, flipping over onto the opposite carriageway.

The driver of a Peugeot 306, travelling south, had no chance of avoiding the smash. His car was crushed and he was declared dead at the scene.

A police spokesman said last night they still had been unable to identify the victim of the crash. They were unable to give any indication of his age.

The driver of the Mitsubishi was undergoing surgery at the University Hospital of North Durham. His condition was said to be “non life-threatening”.

He will be detained and questioned by officers when he is fit enough. Durham police said they hoped to be able to question him over the weekend.

No passengers were in either vehicle.

Representatives of the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) examined the scene, alongside Durham Police accident investigators.

A Durham force spokesman said: “The pursuit of the Mitsubishi took place on the northbound carriageway and involved up to four marked patrol cars. All were using sirens and blue lights.

“Authorisation was given to bring the Mitsubishi to a controlled stop, which is an approved police tactic and used nationwide.

“The driver made efforts to avoid the containment and evaded the police. The Mitsubishi hit the central reservation and flipped onto the southbound carriageway. It hit an oncoming Peugeot car, causing severe injuries to the driver, who died at the scene.”

He said a police helicopter crew monitored the incident from above.

The motorway was closed for eight hours southbound between junctions 62 and 61 and northbound between junctions 60 and 62, causing severe traffic delays. The officers involved in the incident were said to have been “left badly shocked”.

The pick-up had been reported stolen from Chester-le-Street. It was later spotted 20 miles south on the Aycliffe Industrial Estate, Newton Aycliffe. It was followed by police in a patrol car and by the Durham force helicopter. The stolen truck followed the A167 before turning onto the A1(M) and heading north. A local man, who did not want to be named, said he was woken by the sound of the crash at about 5.30am.

“I heard a loud bang and then the police helicopter overhead,” he said.

Police are keen to hear from anyone who witnessed the incident to call 0845 606-0365.

An IPPC statement said: “The investigators have completed a thorough and independent assessment of all the available information. On the basis of the information we have seen, the IPCC is confident that the officers involved observed all necessary policies and procedures during the pursuit and the attempted stop of the stolen vehicle.

“As a result, the IPCC is content for Durham Constabulary to complete the investigation into the matter.”