Man killed and four injured as driver tailed by police crashes

A MAN was killed and three others were left fighting for their lives when a car crashed into a taxi after failing to stop for police.
Scene of the crash on Burley Street, Leeds.Scene of the crash on Burley Street, Leeds.
Scene of the crash on Burley Street, Leeds.

One occupant, aged 22, of a Vauxhall Astra died in hospital following the smash in Burley Street, close to Park Lane College in Leeds, in the early hours of yesterday.

Police said the car was being driven away after being ordered to stop by officers.

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A 27-year-old, who was a back seat passenger in the Astra, and the driver, aged 24, were last night critically ill in hospital.

The driver of the Skoda Superb taxi, a 35-year-old man from Bradford, also suffered life-threatening injuries and is in a serious condition at Leeds General Infirmary.

A West Yorkshire Police spokesman said: “Officers followed in the direction the Astra made off in, but were not involved in a police pursuit and came across the scene of the collision a short time later.”

He added: “The matter has been referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) who have attended the scene.”

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The accident happened at 12.40am in Burley Street, on the edge of the city centre, near where the route becomes Burley Road.

The four men in the Astra were all from the Leeds area and the 22-year-old man who died was a front seat passenger.

A fourth man from the car, aged 27, was also injured but was arrested at the scene on suspicion of an unrelated offence of perverting the course of justice.

The IPCC told the Yorkshire Post it was considering what action to take.

A spokesman said: “We sent two investigators to the scene.

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“We are carrying out an assessment to see whether there is going to be an investigation.”

Debris including broken glass and car parts was yesterday strewn across the road where the smash happened, near the Fox and Newt pub.

Pavements were also spotted with bloodstains.

Sand had been scattered on both sides of the road to soak up petrol and oil while green paint used to mark the road by accident investigators was visible on the carriageway.

Anyone who witnessed the incident should contact West Yorkshire Police’s Major Collision Enquiry Team on 101.

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A motorcyclist was killed after a collision with a car on the outskirts of Leeds on Saturday evening.

Police are appealing for witnesses following the crash on the A658 at Pool Bank, close to Pool-in-Wharfedale, near Otley, at around 7.30pm.

A Suzuki motorbike which was travelling northbound from Otley Road was in collision with a VW Golf heading in the opposite direction.

A 37-year-old man riding the Suzuki, who was from the Leeds area, died as a result of the accident.

Anyone with information about the accident should also call the collision enquiry team on 101.