Police refer 'fail to stop' bike crash to watchdog

An incident in which two teenagers on a motorbike, suspected to have been stolen, failed to stop for police and collided with a car has been referred to the police watchdog.

The rider, 17, suffered a serious leg injury and remains in hospital after the crash on Wednesday afternoon at the junction of Moorside Road and Harrogate Road in Bradford.

His passenger, also 17, suffered minor injuries and was treated in hospital. Both were arrested for a number of alleged offences.

A West Yorkshire Police spokesperson confirmed it had made a "mandatory referral" to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) as "per standard practice."

The spokesperson said: "The bike itself had been sighted by police just prior to the incident and had failed to stop for officers.

"Both teenagers were taken to hospital and were arrested on suspicion of offences including theft of motor vehicle, failing to stop for officers and causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

"One of the teenagers was also further arrested for assaulting a police officer."

The other teenager has since been discharged from hospital, interviewed by officers and released under investigation, said the spokesperson.

The driver of the car was uninjured.

Officers from the Roads Policing Unit are appealing for witnesses and also motorists who were in the area to check their dashcam footage.

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