TWO people have tragically lost their lives and two others sustained injuries following a collision with a police car on a county A-road in Shropshire. The incident occurred at around 10:15 am today when a Skoda Octavia collided with a crime scene investigation (CSI) vehicle on the A458.
Unfortunately, both the driver of the Skoda, a man in his sixties, and a female passenger in her fifties were pronounced dead at the scene approximately 45 minutes after the crash. A third passenger, a woman in her twenties, suffered minor injuries. The driver of the police motor also sustained serious injuries and was transported to a hospital in Birmingham for further treatment.
Authorities have confirmed that at the time of the collision, the CSI vehicle was not responding to an emergency. West Mercia Police has informed its Professional Standards department and has referred the incident to the Independent Office for Police Conduct for further investigation.
Expressing condolences to the families and friends of the deceased, as well as sending well wishes to the injured police officer, Chief Superintendent Gareth Morris, stated, Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the man and woman following this awful incident, and our staff member who has been seriously hurt, at this difficult time. We ask that their privacy is respected. I would also like to reassure the public that we have referred the incident to the IOPC.
Authorities are urging anyone with pertinent information to come forward and report it to West Mercia Police or Crimestoppers, citing reference number 166i of Saturday, December 9.
This tragic collision serves as a stark reminder of the potential risks and consequences faced by both civilians and law enforcement officers on the roads. As investigations continue, there is a shared hope for thoroughness and transparency in determining the circumstances surrounding this devastating incident.
