A MAN died after crashing his car at high speed into a roundabout while being pursued by police.
The 54-year-old, from Accrington, died at the scene of the ‘horrific smash’ at a roundabout at the end of the M55 near Blackpool.
The fatal car smash happened when a Renault Captur, which had been travelling towards the seaside resort, collided with the Ashworth Circle roundabout at the start of Yeadon Way.
The driver, the sole occupant of the vehicle, suffered multiple injuries and was pronounced dead by paramedics.
The incident has been referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC).
Police have confirmed that the vehicle had been pursued prior to the driver losing control of the Renault shortly after 9pm on Wednesday.
The high speed crash was witnessed by other motorists who described the car as ‘taking off’ after it hit the structure.
Yesterday, tyre marks could be seen on the grass in the middle of the roundabout known as the Helter-Skelter Roundabout on account of the sculpture erected there in 1995.
The sculpture in the centre of the feature appeared to have been badly damaged during the incident.
Perimeter brickwork had also been dislodged from the structure as a result of the smash.
A police spokesman said that due to the nature of his injuries the man had yet to be formally identified.
It is believed the vehicle was being pursued by officers after it failed to heed a request to stop.
A police spokesman said: “This collision has cost someone their life and our thoughts are with his family at this time.
“We immediately referred the incident to the IPCC. This is standard practice following a death after police contact.”
An IPCC spokesman said: “The IPCC has begun an independent investigation after a 54-year-old man died following a police pursuit in Blackpool on Wednesday evening.
“IPCC investigators were deployed following a referral from Lancashire Constabulary and an investigation is underway.”
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