The car hit a lamppost on Greyhound Lane
(Picture: Google Streetview)An investigation has been launched into whether police were actively pursuing a car that crashed into a lamppost, killing one woman and injuring four others.
The 19-year-old woman, who died on Tuesday, was one of five women in a Vauxhall Astra which overturned in Streatham, south London, in the early hours of Sunday.
Two other women sustained serious injuries, while the other two suffered minor wounds, as the car crashed into a lamppost in Greyhound Lane at around 4.30am.
An investigation has been launched by the police watchdog which will look at whether officers “were actively pursuing the vehicle”, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said.
IOPC regional director Sal Naseem said: “Our thoughts are with the family of this woman and all those affected by this tragic incident.
“We have made contact with the family of the woman who has died and those of the two seriously injured women, to explain our role and how our investigation will progress.
“We need to understand what happened and we are appealing for anyone who witnessed events last Sunday morning to contact us to help with our independent investigation.
“There is a mandatory requirement for forces to refer to us incidents like this which result in death or serious injury.
“Our investigation will thoroughly examine the circumstances and whether appropriate policies and procedures were followed. We will seek to establish, among other things, whether or not the police were actively pursuing the vehicle.”
The watchdog said initial accounts have been given by the Metropolitan Police officers involved, while police radio transmissions, body worn video footage and CCTV are being gathered.
Anyone with information or mobile phone or dashcam footage is urged to contact investigators on 0300 3035736 or GreyhoundLane@policeconduct.gov.uk.
