Detectives seek witnesses to fatal Islington Police chase accident
The wreckage of the crash in which two people died. Picture by Tony Hardiman/FR Pix - Credit: Paul Wood - 07958 382323
Three people who may have witnessed a fatal accident during a car chase involving Islington Police are being sought.
Gregory Jones from Archway and Shaka Henry from Hornsey Rise died after the black Audi they were passengers in ploughed into a bridge after clipping a van during a pursuit which started in Islington in the early hours of Friday, March 29.
Police pulled the bodies of the two men from the sports car but were unable to revive them and the two men were pronounced dead at the scene. An inquest opened and adjourned the following Tuesday confirmed Mr Jones, 38, of St John’s Way, died of multiple chest trauma, and Mr Henry, 33, of Grenville Road, died of multiple head and chest injuries.
The police chase had started when officers on routine patrol in a marked car became suspicious of the Audi when it appeared to make off at speed when passed in the opposite direction. After several minutes searching for the car, the officers sighted it several hundred metres away and tried to catch it up.
The Audi was believed to have driven through a red light and a short time later it clipped a white van before subsequently hitting the bridge on Seven Sisters Road, near to the junction with St Ann’s Road, South Tottenham.
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The 30-year-old driver, also from Islington, tried to make off from the scene on foot, but was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving, driving under the influence, and possession with intent to supply Class A drugs. Following inquiries he was arrested on suspicion of driving without a licence.
After receiving hospital treatment, he was taken to a north London police station and later bailed to return in early May pending further inquiries.
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The driver of the white van was taken to hospital suffering minor injuries.
Police are now keen to speak to three people who may have witnessed the fatal collision. They are:
- the driver of a black cab who arrived at the scene shortly after the collision and spoke with other witnesses;
- a male pedestrian, who is described as black and wearing a hooded top, who was on the pavement at the junction with Seven Sisters Road and St Ann’s Road;
- a man who was repairing or changing a wheel on a Mercedes on St Ann’s Road near to the junction with Seven Sisters Road.
Anyone who can assist police with their inquiries is asked to contact the Road Death Investigation Unit on 020 8421 817.
The MPS Directorate of Professional Standards (DPS) has been informed and the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) is independently investigating the circumstances surrounding the pursuit.
