THE Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has given an update on its investigation into the horror M606 crash which left three people dead.
Various statements have been gathered, while body-worn and dashcam footage has been reviewed by the watchdog.
Taxi driver Sohail Ali, 28, and his passenger Simon McHugh, 49, were killed on June 13 this year, when they were hit head-on by a stolen Ford Transit Van being driven by Jack Simpson.
He was only 15 at the time and on the wrong side of the motorway.
Mr Ali and Mr McHugh were pronounced dead at the scene, while 18-year-old Kyden Leadbeater, a passenger in the van, died in hospital the following day.
Simpson pleaded guilty to three charges of causing death by dangerous driving and one charge of dangerous driving on the same date.
He was sentenced to six years’ detention, though this has been challenged under the unduly lenient scheme and is being considered by the Attorney General’s office.
A brief hearing was held at Bradford Coroners’ Court yesterday (Thursday) where assistant coroner Mary Burke said inquiries are still ongoing in respect of the circumstances surrounding the three deaths, so suspended the inquest until October 18.
She said a further update would be sought regarding the outstanding inquiries and the families of the three gentlemen be updated.
The IOPC confirmed its investigation is still ongoing, but is nearing completion.
A spokesperson told the Telegraph & Argus: “Our deepest sympathies remain with all those affected by this fatal road collision, which led to three people sadly dying.
“We started our investigation on June 14 and are looking into the police pursuit of a Ford Transit van prior to the collision with a taxi after the van entered the M606 on the wrong side of the carriageway.
“The incident happened near the Chain Bar roundabout, Bradford, at around 10.45pm on Monday, June 13, after the van came to the attention of a police officer on patrol in a police car.
"The focus of our investigation is on the short police pursuit of the transit van before the police driver lost sight of the transit van driving the wrong way round the roundabout.”
The spokesperson added: “Our investigation is currently nearing completion and we have gathered a number of statements from WYP officers and reviewed body-worn video and dashcam footage.
“The officer involved in the pursuit is being treated as a witness.”
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