The police watchdog has launched an investigation after a man was killed by a police car responding to a 999 call in Birmingham.
West Midlands police said the 40-year-old pedestrian was struck by its vehicle in the Acocks Green area of the city just before 7pm on Wednesday.
Officers had been responding to reports of a man with knives when the collision happened near the junction of Yardley Road and Florence Road.
The force said the two officers in its vehicle were not hurt. There was no sign of any disorder when other officers arrived at the reported knife incident, it added.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said it had started an investigation into the fatal collision.
A spokesperson said: “We sent investigators to the scene and post-incident process to begin gathering evidence. Our investigation is in the very early stages.
“Our thoughts are with the man’s family and friends and all of those affected by this tragic incident.”
About 30 people a year die in the UK in road traffic incidents involving the police, according to figures published by the IOPC.
In the year to March last year, 32 people were killed during these incidents. Of those, 24 died during a police pursuit.
West Midlands ambulance service said police officers were attending to the man’s injuries when they arrived.
A spokesperson said: “Ambulance staff quickly took over and administered advanced life support and advanced trauma care to him.
“Unfortunately, despite their best efforts it became clear that nothing more could be done to save him and he was confirmed deceased at the scene.”
