West Mercia Police refers itself to IOPC after fatal crash Worcestershire
On Tuesday (9 Sept), a member of the public reported finding a car on Hurst Lane - near the A449 at Fernhill Heath
West Mercia Police has referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct after it took two days the find the scene of a fatal crash in Worcestershire.
The Force said it received an automated collision detection alert from a mobile phone on Sunday, but when officers went to the location - no vehicle was found.
On Tuesday, a member of the public reported finding a car on Hurst Lane - near the A449 at Fernhill Heath.
The driver, a man in his 20s, was pronounced dead.
In a statement, the force said: "We have made a self-referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) following a collision near the A449 at Fernhill Heath in Worcestershire earlier this week.
"Shortly after 3am on Sunday morning (7 September) we received an automated collision detection alert from a mobile phone. Officers attended the location provided by the alert but, despite a search, no vehicle was found. A further alert was received in the afternoon and additional searches were carried out in the daylight to no avail.
"At around 3:55pm on Tuesday afternoon (9 September) a member of the public reported finding a car, a black Jaguar XF, off Hurst Lane. West Midlands Ambulance Service attended and sadly the driver of the car, a Kidderminster man in his 20s, was pronounced deceased."
Chief Superintendent Gareth Morris said: “As is standard practice for all forces in circumstances such as this we have referred the matter to the IOPC.
"We understand the need and value in independent oversight and in giving the man’s family answers to what happened and what action we took. Our thoughts are with them.”
They say they continue to appeal to anyone who saw, or has dashcam footage, of a vehicle matching this description in the area, from 3am Sunday morning.
Information can be given by emailing [email protected] and quoting 292_i of the 9 September.