A 19-year-old has died after his car smashed into a wall and flipped over following a police pursuit through the streets of Bradford today.

The car crashed into the wall and overturned at about 2am after being followed by police along the A647 Leeds Road towards Laisterdyke.

The silver Toyota Corolla had been spotted by police in Bridge Street in Bradford city centre but failed to stop when he was told to pull over.

The car then sped off towards Leeds and drove through a number of red traffic lights on Leeds Road.

A police spokesman said the car had been followed at a safe distance, but police lost sight of the vehicle as it sped towards Laisterdyke. It was discovered a short time afterwards smashed into a wall on Leeds Road near the junction with Moorside Lane.

The man, who has yet to be identified, is believed to have been a disqualified driver. He was taken to Bradford Royal Infirmary with serious head injuries, but later died. He was the only person in the car.

A full investigation was being launched by officers today in a bid to find out how the tragedy occured.

Sergeant Steve Brown, of Odsal Police, said: "It's obviously being investigated because at some stage a police car was involved, but it was not involved in the collision itself."

The crash wrecked the front garden of the Moghul family who live in Leeds Road. Their front wall was demolished sending stones flying into their flower beds. Summaira Moghul, 27, said she woke up in the middle of the night thinking she had heard an explosion.

"We were sleeping, and we heard this noise. I didn't know what it was. I thought there had been an explosion. I looked out of the window and there was a car in the middle of the road. I don't know what happened to the driver, but there was blood on the car," she said.

Odsal police are appealing for any witnesses to the accident or to anybody who saw the car travelling along Leeds Road prior to the accident to contact them on (01274) 376676.

Police inquiries were continuing today.

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