Investigation underway for fatal Croydon 3-car crash involving police

An investigation is underway for a fatal Croydon 3-car crash involving police. The Met Police officers involved have been spoken to by investigators from the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC). The driver of a car being pursued by officers was pronounced dead at the scene of the collision on Friday, April 18 after he failed to stop for police. Six other people were rushed to hospital following the crash, including a man who has been left with life-changing injuries. IOPC has launched an appeal for witnesses. The police had been following a car suspected of using cloned number plates at around 8.28pm last Friday evening. The officers tried to stop the vehicle around ten minutes later, around South Norwood High Street, resulting in a car chase after the vehicle made off. A crash between the pursued car and two other vehicles then took place at around 8.45pm on the A232 Wickham Road at the roundabout with Shirley Road in Croydon. A 63-year-old man driving the pursued vehicle was pronounced dead at the scene. Six others in the two vehicles involved were taken to hospital. Two passengers in the vehicle that was being pursued, both men aged 61, were arrested on suspicion of being carried in a stolen vehicle. One was also arrested for being in possession of class A drugs. Investigators from the IOPC were then sent to the scene and the post-incident procedures. Initial accounts have been gathered by the officers involved and available body-worn video footage has been collected. The deceased man’s family have also been spoken to and they are being updated on the investigation, say the IOPC. Drivers on ‘busy Croydon road’ urged to come forward IOPC director Amanda Rowe said: “Our thoughts are with the man’s family and friends and all those affected by the collision, particularly those who have been injured. “Our role is to independently investigate the circumstances surrounding this incident and we are in the very early stages. This is a busy road in Croydon, and we would urge anyone who may have witnessed the incident or the moments leading up to it to come forward and report what they saw.” Witnesses are asked to contact IOPC investigators by calling 03003035732 or emailing WickhamRoadRTI@policeconduct.gov.uk Got a story? Please get in touch at katherine.gray@reachplc.com Stay updated on the top South London stories. Sign up to our MySouthLondon newsletter HERE for the latest daily news and more. Story SavedYou can find this story in My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right.