Driver, 18, dies as car lands in garden after police chase

AN 18-year-old driver died after a car which had earlier been followed by police crashed, ending up on its roof in a garden.

West Yorkshire Police said another 18-year-old is in a critical condition in hospital after the incident at Bramhope, near Leeds, and a 19-year-old man was also seriously injured.

The force confirmed the silver Peugeot 106 had been followed by a marked police car after it was spotted close to Weetwood police station on Otley Road, Leeds, last night.

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But a spokesman said officers backed off the vehicle as it entered the town of Otley, due to the way it was being driven, and lost sight of it.

The crashed vehicle was later spotted by the force helicopter crew, he said.

Police said the car left Otley Old Road in Bramhope, near to the entrance to St Helena's Caravan Park.

The spokesman said: "The Peugeot had earlier been sighted by a marked police patrol car near to Weetwood police station in Otley Road.

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"The car failed to stop for the officers and was followed towards Otley. As the vehicle entered Otley the officers backed off due to way the Peugeot was being driven and lost sight of the vehicle.

"The vehicle was then seen by the force helicopter to have crashed."

The driver of the car, an 18-year-old man, received fatal injuries. The front seat passenger, also an 18-year-old man, was taken to Leeds General Infirmary and is said to be in a critical condition. The rear seat passenger, a 19-year-old man, was taken to Leeds General Infirmary with serious but not life threatening injuries, police said.

All three men are from the Horsforth area of Leeds.

The spokesman said West Yorkshire Police's professional standards department and the Independent Police Complaints Commission have been notified.

He also appealed for any witnesses to come forward.