Girl, 19, dies after car being chased by police crashed into lamp post in south west London
- Vauxhall Astra failed to stop for police and crashed into lamp post in Streatham
- Five women were injured during crash and 19-year-old was in critical condition
- Police now confirm teenager has died while two others suffered serious injuries
- The watchdog is investigating the circumstances surrounding the police pursuit
A teenager has died in hospital after a car crashed into a lamppost after it failed to stop for police.
The 19-year-old woman, who died on Tuesday, was one of five women in a Vauxhall Astra which overturned in Streatham, south London, in the early hours of Sunday.
Two other women sustained serious injuries, while the other two suffered minor wounds, as the car crashed into a lamppost in Greyhound Lane at around 4.30am.
A teenager has died after the car she was in crashed during a police chase after failing to stop. The Vauxhall Astra hit a lamp post in Greyhound Lane, Streatham, early on Sunday morning
An investigation has been launched by the police watchdog which will look at whether officers ‘were actively pursuing the vehicle’, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said.
IOPC regional director Sal Naseem said: ‘Our thoughts are with the family of this woman and all those affected by this tragic incident.
‘We have made contact with the family of the woman who has died and those of the two seriously injured women, to explain our role and how our investigation will progress.
‘We need to understand what happened and we are appealing for anyone who witnessed events last Sunday morning to contact us to help with our independent investigation.
‘There is a mandatory requirement for forces to refer to us incidents like this which result in death or serious injury.
‘Our investigation will thoroughly examine the circumstances and whether appropriate policies and procedures were followed. We will seek to establish, among other things, whether or not the police were actively pursuing the vehicle.’
The watchdog said initial accounts have been given by the Metropolitan Police officers involved, while police radio transmissions, body worn video footage and CCTV are being gathered.
Shocking CCTV footage captured the moment when the car crashed.
Officers from Met’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit investigating incident alongside IOPC
At 4.25am on Sunday, March 28, the police asked a car to stop in south west London but the vehicle failed to stop and a police pursuit ensued.
The car can be heard screeching before it loses control and smashes into the post in a loud bang.
A few moments later, the police sirens die down and harrowing screams can be heard.
London Ambulance Service and London Fire Brigade attended the scene and five people from the car were taken to hospital for treatment.
Anyone with information or mobile phone or dashcam footage is urged to contact investigators on 0300 3035736 or [email protected].