Just after 9.30pm last Friday, police officers attempted to stop a car on Purley Downs Road in Purley. Instead of stopping, the driver sped away, prompting a brief police chase.
The pursuit was quickly called off, but moments later the fleeing vehicle collided with a parked car on Florence Avenue, CR2. Fortunately, the parked car was unoccupied at the time of the crash.
Emergency services, including the London Ambulance Service, Fire Brigade, and London’s Air Ambulance, responded promptly to the scene. A 19-year-old passenger from the fleeing vehicle was taken to hospital and remains in serious condition.
The driver, also aged 19, was arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving and causing serious injury. He is currently being held in police custody.
The Metropolitan Police’s Directorate of Professional Standards has been informed as part of standard procedure. Additionally, a mandatory referral has been made to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) to ensure comprehensive scrutiny of the incident.
Originally published by UKNIP.
