Woman fatally hurt during police pursuit crash named

A woman fatally injured in a crash during a police pursuit in Stratford-upon-Avon has been named by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).

Karen Joseph, 62, from the town, died in hospital on Friday, four days after a collision between a black Audi A3 and a Ford Puma on Warwick Road.

The driver of the Audi died at the scene and was named on Thursday as 19-year-old Roman Kalas.

The police watchdog is investigating the circumstances because Kalas's car had been followed by a Warwickshire Police vehicle for about six minutes before the crash at about 17:40 BST on 24 August.

Joseph's daughter, a passenger in the car, suffered minor injuries in the incident, the IOPC said.

In a statement, IOPC director Derrick Campbell said: "We have spoken with both families to advise them of our investigation, and they will be provided with regular updates. They have requested privacy at this difficult time.

"Given two members of the public have died in an incident involving a police pursuit, it's important that an independent investigation is carried out to establish the full circumstances."

Dashcam footage from the police vehicle, which was driven by a single officer, is being reviewed and the route it followed has been retraced by investigators.

The pursuit started on Birmingham Road, when the Audi driven by Kalas failed to stop.

The IPOC has confirmed that the police vehicle had its blue lights and sirens on.

Investigators are appealing for any further dashcam footage from drivers in the area at the time and said they had identified potential CCTV footage to aid the investigation.

Inquests into both deaths are due to be opened on Friday.

A post-mortem examination of Kalas has given an initial cause of death as traumatic head and chest injuries.

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