A 22-year-old man and a 23-year-old woman have died after a police pursuit in Leeds ended in a collision with a Volkswagen. Three teenagers travelling in the other car involved were taken to hospital with injuries not considered life threatening.
The incident happened on Gelderd Road at around 12.44am, when a blue BMW 123D failed to stop for a police vehicle. A pursuit was started, and the BMW collided with a white Volkswagen Scirocco that was turning into Gelderd Road from Lowfields Road.
Fatalities and Arrests
The driver of the Volkswagen, a 22-year-old man from York, was pronounced dead at the scene. A passenger in the same car, a 23-year-old woman also from York, died in hospital shortly afterwards.
A 39-year-old man from Harrogate has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and driving while over the prescribed limit for cannabis. He remains in custody.
Three other occupants of the BMW, two boys aged 16 and 17 and a 16-year-old girl, were treated in hospital for injuries that were not considered life threatening. Each has also been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving, according to a statement from West Yorkshire Police.
Police Appeal and Investigation
A cordon remains in place at the scene, with Gelderd Road closed and drivers advised to avoid the area and seek alternative routes. A referral has been made to the Independent Office for Police Conduct, which has declared an independent investigation.
West Yorkshire Police has appealed for witnesses, particularly anyone with dashcam, mobile phone or CCTV footage of the collision or either vehicle beforehand, to contact officers via 101 or online through the force's website, quoting reference 13260649342.
