Driver found dead by family in Lancashire after police failed to respond to SOS
Lancashire Police have referred themselves to the Independent Office for Police Conduct and are under investigation
Lancashire Police have referred themselves to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) after an iPhone crash alert received by their control room was closed when they couldn't reach the caller.
Nadeem Hussain was found dead by his family over 27 hours after the SOS alert was sent.
Mr Hussain was reported missing on the afternoon of 22nd March.
A Lancashire Police spokesperson said "An iPhone crash SOS alert message was received by the force control room at shortly after 10pm on Saturday, March 21st but after an attempt to recontact the number this call was closed."
Mr Hussain's family called the police at around 01.56am on 23rd March.
They found his car on its side off the M61 down an embankment in a wooded area.
Mr Hussain was deceased inside the car.
A Home Office postmortem examination showed he would have died instantly from his injuries.
Lancashire Police say that when Mr Hussain was reported missing, he was graded as 'medium risk' and enquiries to try and find him were ongoing.
They also say "Our thoughts remain with Nadeem Hussain’s loved ones at this distressing time. They are being supported by specially trained officers."
An investigation by the IOPC is underway.
Anyone with information on the collision is being urged to call 101 quoting log 0074 of March 23rd.