THE Independent Police Complaints Commission is investigating a fatal road accident in County Durham late last night.
It happened at about 11.40pm last night after a Citreon Saxo was seen travelling at speed on Essington Way in Horden.
An unmarked police car going in the opposite direction saw the vehicle and turned to follow it.
But before the Saxo could be stopped it left the carriageway and crashed into a concrete fence at nearby Grants Houses.
The driver of the Saxo, a 22-year-old man from Shotton Colliery, died at the scene.
He has not yet been named.
His passenger in the Saxo, a 23-year-old man from Easington Colliery, suffered cuts and bruises to his head and leg but was checked over at James Cook Hospital, in Middlesbrough.
A police officer had to be treated for shock and the road was closed for five hours while accident investigators got to work.
The Independent Police Complaints Commission are investigating the crash, as are Durham Police’s Roads Policing Unit.
Inspector Ed Turner, of Durham Constabulary, said: “Enquiries are at their very early stages.
“We need to establish the exact circumstances leading up to this crash and establish why the car left the carriageway.
“We are speaking to a number of key witnesses and are keen to speak to a anyone who may have relevant information.”
Comments