A 19 YEAR-OLD man has died following a police pursuit in Spennymoor.
A large number of police officers attended the scene and cordoned off an area of Central Drive, in Middlestone Moor.
At about 2.30pm on Friday, officers from Durham Constabulary took part in a vehicle pursuit in the area involving a Nissan Primera.
Following the pursuit, which is believed to have lasted eight minutes, the driver of the silver Nissan crashed into a wall.
The incident ended in a collision where the driver, who is not being named at this stage, suffered fatal injuries.
The North East Ambulance Service and Great North Air Ambulance Service could be seen shortly after the incident.
One man who lives near the town centre said: “Just before 3pm I heard a few sirens.
“I went to the back garden to see if I could see anything and I saw two police cars coming from the main street. I could hear other cop cars racing from different parts of the town, they seemed to go through Ox Close, Wood View, and they all seemed to head towards Middlestone Moor.
“Coppers were coming from everywhere I knew it was something big.”
A spokesperson from the GNAAS said: “We were called to the scene at 2.48pm following reports of a road traffic collision.
“We were at the incident for eight minutes and flew a doctor and paramedic to the scene.”
About 100 people have come out of their houses to watch police, many of whom are visibily upset.
One resident from the estate where the crash happened said: “I saw the air ambulance landing, I think near Rock Road cemetery.
“I could see the whole estate cordoned off and saw the ambulance leave a good half an hour later.
"There seemed to be hundreds of people on the streets everyone was really shocked and upset.”
An investigation has been launched by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC). IOPC Interim Regional Director David Ford said: “We understand that shortly after 2.30pm a Durham Constabulary marked police car followed a Nissan Primera. After the pursuit the vehicle crashed on Central Drive, Middlestone Moor.
"The 19-year-old man driving the Nissan was fatally injured during the incident. Our thoughts and sympathies are with his family and friends and anyone affected by this sad incident.
"We are attending the scene and the post incident procedures to begin gathering evidence. Anyone who witnessed events leading up to the collision is asked to contact the IOPC on 0800 096 9076 or email witness@policeconduct.gov.uk”
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