Teenager dies after police chase

Police volunteered details to complaints authority

An investigation has been launched into the death of a teenage driver during a police chase.

The man in his late teens died after the car he was driving collided with a single decker bus.

The Vauxhall Astra was being followed by a patrol car in the Walker area of Newcastle upon Tyne when the accident took place shortly after 1800 BST on Saturday.

Northumbria Police voluntarily referred the details of the accident to the Police Complaints Authority.

Passengers

And the authority later confirmed it is to hold an investigation.

Superintendent Ingrid Taylor of Northumbria Police professional standards department was appointed the investigating officer.

Authority member Ann Barker said: "My condolences go to the family of the young man who died tonight.

"I will ensure that a thorough inquiry is carried out into this tragic incident, on behalf of HM Coroner."

The driver died instantly in the collision at the junction of White Street and Bath Street.

One of his two passengers fled the scene, the other was helping police with their inquiries, a police spokeswoman said.

The bus driver was released after treatment for shock at Newcastle General Hospital.

There were no passengers on the bus at the time of the crash.