Boy dies in electric bike crash after being followed by police

A 15-year-old boy riding an e-bike has died following a collision with an ambulance, shortly after he was being followed by traffic officers.

Police began following the teenager along Fitzwarren Street in Salford, Manchester at around 2pm on Thursday, the force said.

The boy went into Lower Seedley Road and bollards prevented the police vehicle from continuing to follow him.

The boy was then involved in a collision with an ambulance in Langworth Road “a short time later” in which he was killed.

The ambulance was parked at the time, the Manchester Evening News reported.

Officers were not in pursuit at the moment of impact, according to Greater Manchester Police.

Watchdog the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) will investigate, after the force referred the collision to it.

A GMP statement said: “In line with normal proceedings, the incident has been referred to IOPC, who are now leading the investigation.

“A cordon remains in place on Langworthy Road. Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the boy who tragically died.”

An IOPC spokesperson said: “We were notified by Greater Manchester Police due to the fact a police vehicle had been following the e-bike shortly before the collision.

“We have sent investigators to the scene of the collision, at the junction of Langworthy Road and Lower Seedley Road, as well as to the police post-incident procedures, to begin gathering evidence.

“Our investigation is at a very early stage and we will provide further details once we are in a position to do so.”

Harvey Evans, 15, and Kyrees Sullivan, 16, were killed in an e-bike collision after being followed by a police van in Cardiff last month, sparking a riot in the aftermath. The best friends were found on the road by a member of the public, an inquest heard.

The IOPC is already conducting an investigation into that case, after footage of the marked police vehicle following the boys emerged the next day. A total of 20 people were arrested in connection with the riot that erupted afterwards.

E-bikes are legal in the UK for anyone over 14 and provided the bike meets certain technical conditions.