Two men killed after car seen speeding crashes

The officer had lost sight of the Volkswagen Polo by the time it overturned and struck a tree in Bury, Greater Manchester Police said.

The driver and a passenger, who have not yet been identified, were pronounced dead at the scene. The crash happened at around 3.30am near Newbank Garden Centre on Bury Road in Radcliffe.

The area was sealed off for forensic examinations. An officer from the force’s Professional Standards Branch was also in attendance.

The police driver will have his driving authority suspended, in line with standard procedure, while an investigation is carried out, the force said.

Police said a taxi driver told them he was overtaken by the Polo, which was travelling at speed, moments before the smash.

A spokesman said: “At about 3.30am today an officer on routine patrol spotted a silver Volkswagen Polo with frosted windows travelling at excess speed along Bury Road, Radcliffe. The officer turned his car around and activated his emergency equipment to pursue the car but it had already driven off and the officer had lost sight of it.

“By the time he reached Newbank Garden Centre the car had overturned and collided with a tree. “

The two men who died were aged in their 20s, police said.