A teenage boy has been killed in a crash during a police chase on the M4 in Swindon.
Officers were pursuing a Vauxhall Astra after it failed to stop on the eastbound carriageway yesterday night (Tuesday, 2 January).
The car exited the motorway at the Junction 15 slip-road, before colliding with a barrier on the roundabout ahead and flipping out of control.
A teenage boy was pronounced dead at the scene. Formal identification has not yet taken place, but his family have been informed. Three others in the vehicle sustained minor injuries.
It’s believed three police cars were behind the fleeing vehicle – a marked roads policing unit BMW and an unmarked Vauxhall Astra and an unmarked Audi S4.
With the support of the police helicopter from Bristol, a man – aged in his 20s – was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.
Two women, aged in their 20s, were arrested on suspicion of taking a vehicle without consent. All three suspects remain in custody for questioning.
Wiltshire Police has referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), which has confirmed it declared an independent investigation at around 5am.
An IOPC spokesperson said: “We have started an independent investigation into the circumstances of a fatal collision involving a vehicle that had failed to stop for police near junction 15 of the eastbound M4, in Swindon, at around 10.50pm last night ( Tuesday 2 January).
“We understand the collision happened at a roundabout just off the motorway following a pursuit, and involved a Vauxhall Astra.
“We were informed by Wiltshire Police that a male who was a passenger in the car was sadly confirmed dead at the scene.
“The driver of the car and two other passengers were injured but not seriously.
“Next of kin have been informed and a post mortem examination will take place in due course.
“After we were notified by Wiltshire Police we sent investigators to the scene and to the police post-incident procedures to begin gathering evidence including initial accounts from the officers involved, along with body worn video for review.
“We declared an independent investigation at around 5am.
“We will be in contact with the family of the male who died to explain our role and our thoughts are with them and everyone else affected by this incident.”
Junction 15 and the adjoining section of the A419 will remain closed until Thursday morning (4 January) for a forensic collision investigation and safety barrier repairs.
Anyone who witnessed the collision or might have dashcam footage of the incident or the vehicle beforehand is asked to email the Serious Collision Investigation Team on [email protected].
