Three members of the public are seriously injured in hospital after a police chase ended in a fatal crash in Salford.
Officers in an unmarked police car pursued a vehicle being driven at speed on Frederick Road at around 11.40pm on Wednesday night (September 23).
The pursued vehicle crashed with two other cars, police said, and the two men inside that vehicle were killed at the scene.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has now confirmed that three members of the public - two women and a man - were travelling in one of the cars that were hit.
They were taken to hospital with serious injuries that are not thought to be life-threatening.
The IOPC has now launched an investigation into the pursuit, which the M.E.N understands only went on for a short period of time.
Amanda Rowe, regional director at IOPC, said: “My thoughts are with the men’s family and friends after this tragic incident.
“We sent our investigators to the scene and to the post incident procedures to begin gathering evidence.
“When someone dies following police contact, it is mandatory for forces to make a referral to the IOPC.
"Our role is to establish the circumstances of the incident and this work is already under way.”
In an earlier statement, a spokesperson from GMP said: "At around 11.40pm on Wednesday 23 September 2020, police observed a vehicle being driven at speed on Frederick Road, Salford.
"Officers initiated a pursuit and the vehicle in question collided with two third party vehicles.
"Two men from the vehicle in question were sadly pronounced dead a short time later.
"One man and two women from a third party vehicle were taken to hospital with serious injuries.
"No arrests have been made.
"In line with normal procedure, this incident has been referred to GMP's Professional Standards Branch and the IOPC."
A police cordon was in place on Frederick Road from Broad Street to Lissadel Street following the smash.
A high performance Audi that belongs to GMP was seen inside the cordon along with three other vehicles.
A silver vehicle could be seen directly behind the Audi.
Specialist investigators were called to the crash site, and could be seen taking photographs of the scene.
