Fatal pursuit police 'justified'

No action is to be taken against police officers who pursued a car which crashed on the M1, killing a passenger, the police watchdog has said.

Steven Bellerby, 25, from Peterlee in County Durham, died when a Vauxhall Corsa left the motorway and overturned.

It happened on the northbound carriageway, near Chesterfield in Derbyshire, early on Sunday.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) said the officers were justified in their actions.

'Terrible tragedy'

The Corsa was being pursued by two Derbyshire police vehicles.

An IPCC investigator said an officer had approached the car, which was parked on the hard shoulder with its hazard lights flashing, but the vehicle then sped off.

IPCC commissioner Amerdeep Somal said: "This has been a terrible tragedy with the sad loss of a young life.

"My thoughts are with the family and loved ones of the man who died.

"It is important to stress that the IPCC has undertaken a thorough and independent assessment of all the available evidence and has been able to quickly establish that we do not need to undertake further investigation."

Two men were arrested near the scene of the crash.

One, a 31-year-old from Southampton, was taken to hospital with a broken arm.

The other, a 26-year-old man from County Durham, was taken into police custody.

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