A 17-year-old boy has died after a car he was passenger in crashed during a police chase in north London.
The car was carrying three males when it crashed in Park Royal Road, outside Central Middlesex Hospital around 5.25am on Monday.
The car was being pursued by the Met police at the time.
The force has notified the police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), which is carrying out an independent investigation into what happened.
Ambulances and an air ambulance were scrambled to the scene, and all three males were taken to hospital for treatment.
Roads closed at the front of Central Middlesex hospital, traffic congestion in the area . Car crash at around 5am this morning. Give yourselves plenty of time if you have a hospital appointment today. Car park 1 is open as usual . #centralmiddlesexhospital . pic.twitter.com/yOSA4vbXdG
— Grant_hh37 ⬛✖️⬛ (@GrantTheHatter) October 7, 2024
“One of these males, aged 17, subsequently died in hospital,” said a Met spokesperson on Monday evening.
“The other two people remain in hospital; one is in a critical condition – the other is not believed to be seriously injured.”
Photos taken in the aftermath of the crash showed the wreck of a badly damaged red hatchback at the scene.
Central Middlesex Hospital is in the centre of the Park Royal business estate, on the border of London boroughs Brent and Ealing.
A spokesperson for the IOPC said: “We understand that a Ford Fiesta, with three male occupants, was being pursued by the driver of a marked police vehicle before it struck a kerb and rolled over.
“A passenger, aged 17, sustained fatal injuries and was sadly pronounced dead in hospital, while the driver sustained minor injuries and the other passenger is in a critical condition in hospital.”
Avoid Park Royal if you can, buses are all on diversion and can't get into central Middlesex hospital, looks like a car has blown up outside the hospital. Red & blue police tape cordons set up #ParkRoyal #London #accident #centralmiddlesexhospital #tfl #buses #asda #trafficupdate pic.twitter.com/9HY0i8BqJd
— Straight Shootin' LJA (@SSLJA) October 7, 2024
Police are investigating the circumstances of the crash, and the Met’s Directorate of Professional Standards has also been informed, said the Met.
“A referral has been made to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) who will carry out an independent investigation into the circumstances,” said a spokesperson.
Road closures remained in place on Monday evening.
The IOPC has confirmed it is independently investigating “the involvement of the Metropolitan Police Service” prior to the crash.
“We were notified by the Met shortly after the collision and IOPC investigators have attended the scene and are at the police post incident procedure to begin gathering information,” a spokesperson said.
“Our thoughts are with the family of the 17-year-old who died and all those who have been affected by this incident.
“Initial accounts are being provided by the officers involved and we have begun collecting dashcam footage and relevant documents. Our investigation is at an early stage.”
