A man has died and another person is fighting for their life following a three-car crash during a police chase in Croydon, south London.

A tragic incident unfolded in Croydon, south London, on Friday night when a 63-year-old man died following a police chase that resulted in a three-car crash. The Metropolitan Police first spotted the man’s vehicle at 8:28 PM due to suspected cloned number plates. Officers attempted to stop the car ten minutes later, but the driver accelerated, leading to an eight-minute chase before crashing into two other vehicles on Wickham Road, close to Shirley Road junction. Despite immediate CPR from police officers, the man was pronounced dead at the scene. Emergency services, including the London Ambulance Service and London Fire Brigade, responded quickly to treat the injured, with five individuals taken to the hospital, one of whom is in a life-threatening condition. The two passengers in the pursued vehicle, both aged 61, faced arrests on suspicions related to a stolen vehicle and possession of class A drugs, and they remain in custody as investigations continue. The Metropolitan Police have appropriately referred themselves to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), a standard protocol in situations where a police pursuit results in death or serious injury. The IOPC has initiated an independent investigation, which is vital in ensuring transparency and accountability in the handling of the incident. This incident raises broader questions about police pursuit policies, especially regarding how high-speed chases conducted in urban areas can lead to tragic outcomes, not just for suspects but also for innocent bystanders. While the need to apprehend suspects is undeniable, such incidents often reignite debates over public safety and police protocols during pursuits, especially when potentially dangerous behaviors are involved, such as the use of cloned plates. Moving forward, a careful assessment of pursuit policies and their potential risks will be critical for the Metropolitan Police as they work to prevent such tragedies from recurring in the future.