Man dies and two hurt after police chase

Louise HobsonNorth East and Cumbria
News imageBBC A yellow Cleveland Police Matrix van is parked across a road behind a road closed sign and traffic cones.BBC
A 44-year-old man has died in a crash following a police pursuit

A 44-year-old man has died in a crash after being chased by police.

A blue VW Golf hit a concrete bollard after a "short pursuit" on Elizabeth Way, Hartlepool, at 04:00 BST on 7 April, Cleveland Police said

The driver died and two passengers, a 34-year-old man and a 42-year-old woman, were taken to hospital with injuries.

Cleveland Police said it had referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct.

The road, which was closed for about 12 hours, has reopened and the force has appealed to anyone with information or video footage of the crash to contact it.

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