Fatal collision between pursued car and pedestrian - Leicestershire Police, January 2019

During the early hours of 19 January 2019, two Leicestershire Police officers in a marked car were on patrol in Leicester when they encountered a car travelling towards them on the wrong side of the road. Officers later described the driver’s manner of driving as “reckless”. Officers turned their car around and caught up with the car, which was now driving more slowly. The police driver decided to stop the car to give the driver words of advice. The police driver turned on the car’s blue lights and waited to see the reaction of the other driver. The driver continued, so the police driver switched the sirens on. The car was now approximately five metres ahead. As it started to drive off, the police driver decided to engage in a pursuit, and informed the force control room. Within seconds, the pursued car hit a pedestrian and continued to drive. The police car was approximately 25 metres behind at this point.

The police driver immediately called for an ambulance and stopped to provide first aid to the pedestrian, who was pronounced dead at the scene a short while after.

The driver of the pursued car was later arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.

Our investigators attended the scene and conducted a detailed examination. We collected statements from the officers involved and friends of the pedestrian, as well as CCTV, radio communications and data downloaded from the police car and the pursued car.

Based on the evidence available, we were of the opinion that the police driver’s decision to stop the car was appropriate, as was their decision to initiate a pursuit: the driver had been trained to carry out pursuits, was driving an appropriate vehicle, and had followed force policy. The evidence did not indicate that the police officers involved in this incident caused or contributed to the pedestrian’s death.

We found no indication that any person serving with the police may have behaved in a manner that would justify the bringing of disciplinary proceedings, or had committed a criminal offence.

We completed our investigation in June 2019, but waited until the criminal trial had concluded in August 2019 before publishing its outcomes. The driver of the pursued car admitted causing death by dangerous driving and received a custodial sentence and driving ban.