Two Men Hit By Police Car Named
9 June 2010, 09:42
The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) is appealing for witnesses following a double fatal road traffic collision in Luton last weekend.
At approximately 11.50pm on Friday 4 June 2010 two Bedfordshire Police Officers were responding to an emergency (999) call in a marked police car, a Vauxhall Astra.
The police car was in collision with a Toyota Celica on Leagrave Road in Luton. Following the collision, the police car mounted the pavement and collided with a group of people.
Two of the group, Mr Rida Lecheheb (DOB 16/6/1976) and Mr Sidali Mellel (DOB 25/7/1983) died following the collision.
The two police officers were uninjured. The member of the public in the Toyota Celica received treatment for minor injuries at the scene.
The case was referred to the IPCC and investigators went to the scene. An independent investigation has been launched into the actions of the officers in the police car, to investigate whether they acted within the law and in line with force policy during the incident.
IPCC investigators have been speaking to local people, examining officers' first accounts, checking police records and documents and liaising with the Coroner. IPCC Family Liaison Officers have been appointed to make sure the men’s families are kept up to date with the progress of the investigation.
IPCC Commissioner Rachel Cerfontyne said: “Independent investigators will be concentrating on gathering relevant information from police radio transmissions, viewing CCTV footage, examining statements from witnesses and following other lines of enquiry"
“It is really important that we piece together a full picture of what happened. We need to hear from anyone who saw the movements of the police car in the run up to the collision along Leagrave Road. We are hearing from local people that there were various witnesses to the collision and I would urge those people would contact us and tell us what they saw.”
Anybody with any information which may help the investigation is asked to contact the IPCC on 0800 096 9075 or lutonrtc@ipcc.gsi.gov.uk.