Pedestrian dies as police follow car

It is not certain if officers were following at speed

A pedestrian has died after a car being followed by police crashed in to a taxi in the centre of Liverpool.

Brian Scarhill, 45, from Kensington in Liverpool, died when he was caught up in a smash between a red Vauxhall Cavalier and the cab.

The Cavalier, carrying two men aged 16 and 17, crashed into the taxi, which in turn hit the civil engineer.

A 17-year-old has been arrested on suspicion of aggravated taking of a motor vehicle and death by dangerous driving.

Speed investigated

The car was seen earlier in suspicious circumstances and was being followed by Merseyside Police officers when the crash happened just after 2100 BST on Saturday.

A Merseyside Police spokeswoman said it was not certain if the officers were pursuing the Cavalier at speed or simply following it.

"We have commenced an investigation into the exact circumstances of the incident," she said.

"It has been voluntarily referred to the Police Complaints Authority, which is considering supervising the investigation."

The accident took place at the junction of Brownlow Hill and Clarence Street, near the city's Roman Catholic Cathedral.

The 42-year-old cab driver was taken to the Royal Liverpool Hospital but was later released.

The two occupants of the Cavalier were also admitted to hospital, one has been released and police said the other was in a poorly but stable condition.