IPCC Called In After Fatal M4 Crash

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) has been called in to investigate a collision on the M4 in which five people were killed.

It has been revealed that one of the cars involved in the collision had been pursued by police before the crash occurred.

Gwent Police said that police had stopped following the vehicle after it turned onto the motorway in the wrong direction.

IPCC commissioner Tom Davies said: "It has emerged that at around 3am this morning a marked police vehicle had reason to try and stop a car containing four male occupants.

"Early indications are that the vehicle being pursued took a turn onto the motorway in the wrong direction. The police vehicle did not follow it. Some one and a half miles down the motorway, the fatal collision occurred."

The collision, between a red Ford Mondeo and a red Volvo 940, happened between junctions 25 and 24 in Newport, south Wales, around 3:15am on Monday morning.

Three men from one car died at the scene, along with a couple in the other car. An 18-year-old man, understood to have been travelling in the car with the three men who died, was taken to hospital suffering from multiple injuries.

A spokesperson for Gwent Police said: "The identification of the deceased is currently being ascertained and their families informed."

The motorway was closed in both directions to allow an investigation to take place, resulting in long tailbacks, but it has since reopened.

(KMcA)