Two dead after police pursuit crash in Stratford-upon-Avon, IOPC investigates

Karen Joseph, 62, died in hospital four days after a crash on Warwick Road during a Warwickshire Police pursuit. The IOPC has launched an independent investigation.

Woman named among two fatalities after Warwickshire police pursuit crash

Karen Joseph, 62, from Stratford-upon-Avon, has been identified as the second person to die following a collision during a police pursuit in the town, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has confirmed. Google News IE — Crime (en) reported the story, citing BBC coverage of the ongoing investigation.

Joseph died in hospital on Friday, four days after a black Audi A3 and a Ford Puma collided on Warwick Road at approximately 17:40 BST on 24 August. The driver of the Audi, Roman Kalas, 19, died at the scene and was named on Thursday. A post-mortem examination recorded his initial cause of death as traumatic head and chest injuries.

Joseph's daughter, a passenger in the Ford Puma, sustained minor injuries in the incident, the IOPC said.

The police watchdog opened an independent investigation after it emerged that a single-officer Warwickshire Police vehicle had been following Kalas's Audi for approximately six minutes before the crash. The pursuit began on Birmingham Road, when the Audi failed to stop. The IOPC has confirmed the police vehicle was travelling with blue lights and sirens activated.

IOPC director Derrick Campbell said investigators had spoken with both families and would provide them with regular updates. "Given two members of the public have died in an incident involving a police pursuit, it's important that an independent investigation is carried out to establish the full circumstances," Campbell said. Both families have requested privacy.

Dashcam footage from the police vehicle is under review and investigators have retraced the route followed during the pursuit. The IOPC is also appealing for dashcam footage from other drivers in the area at the time and said potential CCTV material had been identified to assist the inquiry.

Inquests into both deaths are due to be opened on Friday.

Source: Google News IE — Crime (en)