A taxi driver and passenger have been killed when a van travelling the wrong way on a motorway during a police pursuit crashed head-on into the vehicle.
Three occupants of the fleeing van have also been "critically" injured in the horror smash on the M606, Bradford, West Yorkshire, last night.
The dead taxi driver has been named as Sohail Ali, 27, who was taking a fare out of Bradford at 10.45pm.
A spokesperson for his family said Sohail worked for Arrival taxis, saying: ”The driver and a passenger, were pronounced deceased as a result of the van hitting them head-on as it travelled the wrong way up the motorway, towards Bradford.”
The Independent Office for Police Conduct is investigating the West Yorkshire Police pursuit.
West Yorkshire Police stated: ”Emergency services are currently dealing with a serious road traffic collision that has closed the M606 in Bradford.
"A 10.45pm on Monday, a van failed to stop for a marked roads policing unit and was then driven the wrong way on the southbound M606 from Chain Bar roundabout towards Bradford, where it was involved in a head-on collision with a taxi.
"There are five casualties in total from both vehicles, including three who were critically injured. “
One carriageway is now open.
"West Yorkshire Police has informed the Independent Office for Police Conduct due to the involvement of a police vehicle in the circumstances leading up to the collision.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct stated: "We are carrying out an independent investigation into the involvement of West Yorkshire Police (WYP) prior to a road traffic collision on the M606 near the Chain Bar roundabout, Bradford, at around 10.45pm on Monday, June 13.
"We were notified by WYP after the collision and an independent investigation declared at 12.51am today (Tuesday, June 14).
"We understand that a Ford Transit van failed to stop for police before it was involved in a collision with a taxi after the van entered the M606 on the wrong side of the carriageway.
"IOPC investigators are attending the scene and the police post-incident procedure. We have begun to gather information and our investigation is at an early stage.”
