Police officers who pursued a vehicle in Lancashire before it was involved in a fatal crash killing a 29-year-old man have been cleared of any wrongdoing.

A Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) investigation concluded officers involved acted in accordance with the relevant policies and procedures during the pursuit in July 2021.

An inquest which concluded earlier today at Preston Coroner’s Court, determined Imran Sultan, 29, died as a result of a road traffic collision.

MORE: Imran Sultan drove at 90mph away from police before fatal crash in Accrington Road, Hapton

The IOPC received a referral from Lancashire Police following the incident, which happened in Accrington Road, Hapton, on Sunday, July 18, 2021, from which Mr Sultan died of his injuries.

A female passenger was also taken to hospital as a precaution and treated for minor injuries.

Lancashire Telegraph:

IOPC investigators attended the scene of the crash and obtained CCTV footage, in-car footage from the police car, body-worn video footage and statements from both police officers and members of the public during the course of the investigation.

The investigation, which concluded in November 2021, found two officers saw a Nissan X-Trail driving at speed while travelling along the M65 motorway towards Blackburn.

A pursuit began after the driver - Imran Sultan - exited the M65 motorway via the junction eight slip road and increased his speed.

Officers told the IOPC they judged it to be driving erratically. Sultan had traces of alcohol and cannabis in his system and was also uninsured and didn't have a valid licence to be behind the wheel.

The roads on which the pursuit took place have speed limits ranging between 30mph and 50mph. 

The in-car footage obtained during the investigation showed the driver did not demonstrate any intention to stop for the police, at times increasing the speed of the car to approximately 95mph.

The contact between the police and Mr Sultan during the pursuit was brief and lasted about three minutes from the initial sighting.

There was also a significant distance between the police car and the Nissan during the pursuit.

The Nissan was out of sight of police at the time of the collision, with officers becoming aware when they saw debris on the road as they travelled round a bend.

Lancashire Telegraph:

The evidence showed the officer driving the police vehicle considered the weather and road conditions, traffic and pedestrian volume as well as the speed of the pursuit, and this information was appropriately relayed to the control room operator.

The IOPC concluded while police presence may have affected the manner of Mr Sultan’s driving, the evidence indicated the officers acted in accordance with local and national policies.

It was also found the risk assessments carried out by the officers and control room staff during the pursuit were appropriate and necessary.

IOPC Regional Director, Catherine Bates, said: “This was a tragic event that resulted in a man’s death. Our thoughts remain with his family and all those affected.

“It is vital that incidents like this are thoroughly and independently investigated, which is what we have done.

"Our findings were provided to the Coroner to help inform the inquest proceedings.

“Our investigation found that the officers involved were appropriately-trained and driving in accordance with force and national policies during the pursuit.”