A man has died and another person is fighting for their life following a three-car crash during a police chase in Croydon, south London.
Five other people were injured in the collision on Wickham Road, near the junction with Shirley Road, shortly before 9pm on Friday night, with three people trapped in the wreckage.
Police initially spotted the 63-year-old victim driving a vehicle with suspected cloned number plates at around 8.28pm. Officers attempted to stop the car ten minutes later, but it sped off, triggering the chase.
Eight minutes into the pursuit, the vehicle collided with two other cars. Despite paramedics performing CPR at the scene, the suspect died from his injuries.
London Fire Brigade crews rescued three people trapped in their vehicles, who were then rushed to hospital by ambulance.
Two passengers from the suspect’s car, both aged 61, have been arrested on suspicion of travelling in a stolen vehicle. One was also arrested for possession of class A drugs. Both remain in custody.
The Metropolitan Police has referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), which will now investigate.
A Met spokesperson said: "The Met's Directorate of Professional Standards was immediately informed and a referral made to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), which is a required step whenever vehicles are involved in a collision involving death or serious injury following a police pursuit.
"The IOPC will now carry out an independent investigation."
The road was closed overnight but has since reopened.
