Man, 34, is found dead on railway tracks after car chase with Met Police in south London
- A man was then discovered lying on railway lines in Streatham, south London
- Police said they have identified the 34-year-old man and told his next of kin
A 34-year-old man has died on railway tracks in south London following a car chase with police, the Metropolitan Police said.
The force said that at around 3.26am Wednesday morning officers were involved in the pursuit of a car after it failed to stop for them.
They said the car was heading towards Streatham High Road in the early hours of the morning when the driver of the vehicle failed to comply with officers.
The force said a vehicle pursuit was authorised and officers followed the car for a short time, indicating it should stop.
But amid the pursuit, the car crashed in Brunswick Mews, Streatham and the driver ran from the scene.
The Met Police said a man was discovered lying on railway lines in the vicinity of Estreham Road in Streatham
Police said the driver was last seen in nearby Potters Lane before officers lost sight of him.
A helicopter was later called in and a search of the area was conducted.
A man was then discovered lying on railway lines in the vicinity of Estreham Road.
The Met said officers liaised with Network Rail and the British Transport Police to get the power to the lines turned off.
Officers and paramedics immediately approached the man as soon as the lines were confirmed as safe, the force said.
They confirmed the man was sadly pronounced dead at the scene.
Police said he has been identified as a 34-year-old man and his next of kin have been informed.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) confirmed they have since launched an investigation.
‘We can confirm the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has begun an investigation after a man died following a pursuit by Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) officers,’ a spokesperson said.
The force said a vehicle pursuit was authorised and officers followed the car for a short time as it headed toward Streatham High Road at around 3.26am Wednesday morning
‘At around 3.26am on Wednesday June 14 we understand a car failed to stop for MPS officers in the Streatham area.
‘We were advised by the MPS that an authorised pursuit began involving a marked and an unmarked police car, and the car being pursued.
‘Shortly afterwards the car apparently collided with a garden fence in Brunswick Mews and two male passengers were detained by officers.
‘The driver made off from the car and was pursued on foot by officers. We have been told he climbed a fence onto a railway line where, sadly, his body was spotted by police helicopter.
‘After being notified by the MPS, we sent our investigators to the scene and the post incident procedures to begin gathering evidence.’
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