A 15-year-old boy riding an e-bike has died in a collision with an ambulance in Greater Manchester shortly after he was followed by traffic officers, police said.
Greater Manchester police (GMP) said at about 2pm on Thursday the officers began following the boy along Fitzwarren Street in Salford on to Lower Seedley Road but bollards prevented the police vehicle from continuing.
Officers were not following at the moment of impact, GMP said.
The force said: “A short time later a road traffic collision occurred between the e-bike and an ambulance on Langworthy Road. The 15-year-old boy riding the e-bike sadly died.”
In line with normal proceedings, the incident has been referred to Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), who are leading the investigation.
An IOPC spokesperson said: “We were notified by Greater Manchester police due to the fact that a police vehicle had been following the e-bike shortly before the collision.
“We have sent investigators to the scene of the collision, at the junction of Langworthy Road and Lower Seedley Road, as well as to the police post-incident procedures, to begin gathering evidence.
“Our investigation is at a very early stage and we will provide further details once we are in a position to do so.”
A cordon remains in place on Langworthy Road. GMP added: “Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the boy who tragically died.”
Police and paramedics were pictured at the scene as investigators trawled the area for evidence. An ambulance with a smashed windscreen was photographed within the cordon.
ITV News reported that the ambulance was parked at the time of the incident.
It comes after 15-year-old Harvey Evans and 16-year-old Kyrees Sullivan were killed in an e-bike collision after being followed by a police van in Cardiff last month, which triggered a riot in the city.