An 11-year-old boy is in a critical condition after being hit by a police van while crossing the road.

A police van was attending an emergency call at about 8.30pm (May 25) with lights and sirens when it was involved in a crash, hitting a child who was crossing Owen Road in Lancaster.

The 11-year-old boy has been taken to Royal Lancaster Infirmary, where his condition is described as critical.

A spokesperson for the police said: “Our thoughts are with the child’s loved ones at this time.

“An investigation is underway to establish the full circumstances that led to the collision. We have voluntarily referred this matter to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), as is standard with an incident of this nature.”

Anyone with information, CCTV or dashcam footage that may assist the police investigation is asked to contact 101 quoting log 1388 of May 25.

A road closure was in place for some time but has now been lifted.

A spokesperson for the IOPC said: “The IOPC has declared an independent investigation into the actions of Lancashire Police prior to a road traffic collision in Owen Road, Lancaster at around 8.30pm on 25 May, in which a child has been injured.

“We understand that a marked police van, with its lights and sirens on, was in a collision with an 11-year-old boy.

“He has been taken to hospital and our thoughts are with him and his family.

“We were notified by the force shortly after the collision and declared an investigation at 10.37pm. IOPC investigators are heading to the scene and the police post incident procedure to begin gathering information.

“Our investigation is at an early stage.”