Second Teenager Dies Following Police Pursuit Collision

A fatal car crash in Birmingham, which occurred after a police pursuit, has resulted in the death of a second teenager. The 16-year-old male was an occupant of a vehicle that, according to West Midlands Police, “failed to stop for officers” before colliding with a tree around 02:00 GMT on Thursday on Grove Lane, Handsworth. The boy succumbed to his injuries in hospital on Thursday. Previously, authorities had reported that a 17-year-old had been pronounced dead at the scene of the incident. West Midlands Police has referred the event to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC). The IOPC stated that the officers involved in the pursuit were operating an “armed response vehicle, with lights and sirens activated.” Three additional teenagers who were also in the vehicle are currently receiving medical treatment in hospital. The A4040 Church Lane in Handsworth remains closed as law enforcement personnel proceed with their investigation into the circumstances surrounding the collision. National Express West Midlands implemented diversions for its 11A, 11C, and 101 bus services. Handsworth Wood councillor Gurdial Singh Atwal commented that “although the facts of the incident remained unknown, the death of the teen was upsetting.” An Independent Office for Police Conduct spokesperson confirmed that its investigators were present at the site of the crash.