Two dead after fatal A458 crash with police car as officer suffers ‘serious injuries’

Two people have died and two others have been injured in a crash involving a police vehicle in Shropshire. The A458 near Bridgnorth was closed in both directions on Saturday prompting West Mercia Police to advise drivers to avoid area. Among the two injured was a police officer, who sustained "serious injuries" and was rushed to Queen Elizabeth Hospital[1] in Birmingham.

The crash, which happened on the A458 between Much Wenlock and Bridgnorth, involved a Skoda Octavia, driven by a member of the public, West Mercia Police said[2]. The ambulance service rushed to the scene but the driver of the Skoda, a man in his sixties, and a female passenger in her fifties, were sadly pronounced dead around 45 minutes later. A third passenger, a woman in her 20's, suffered minor injuries.

LIVE UPDATES: A458 fatal live as two dead and two injured after crash involving police car[3] The driver of the police car suffered serious injuries and was taken to the QE Hospital in Birmingham. The Police staff member was driving a crime scene investigation vehicle that was not travelling in response to an emergency, the force said.

The force's Professional Standards Department have been alerted, as is standard practice and the incident has been referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC). Chief Superintendent Gareth Morris, of West Mercia Police said: "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."

Officers are asking anyone who may have any information or dash-cam footage of this incident to report it online via our website www.westmercia.police.uk/tua/tell-us-about/[4] quoting reference number 166i of Saturday 9 December. Alternatively, if you have information but don't feel comfortable speaking to police, you can speak to the independent charity Crimestoppers. It is 100% anonymous, they never ask your name, and they cannot trace your call or IP address.

You can contact them online or by calling 0800 555 111.

References

1. ^ Queen Elizabeth Hospital (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
2. ^ West Mercia Police said (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
3. ^ A458 fatal live as two dead and two injured after crash involving police car (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
4. ^ www.westmercia.police.uk/tua/tell-us-about/ (gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com)