Two cyclists killed by car in ‘police pursuit’

UK police watchdog are investigating the scene

Two cyclists killed when they were hit by a car during a suspected police pursuit in the UK. File photograph
Two cyclists killed when they were hit by a car during a suspected police pursuit in the UK. File photograph

Two cyclists were killed when they were struck by a car during a suspected police pursuit in the UK.

Police called to a "fear-for-welfare" incident and spotted a black BMW convertible linked to the call-out.

As the car travelled on along the Thames in Berkshire at 9pm yesterday, it crashed into two cyclists who died at the scene.

One of the riders was a 29-year-old father-of-two John Moorland.

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The Independent Police Complaints Commission the police watchdog are carrying out an assessment.

A police spokesman said a man had been arrested following the incident.

“The BMW, which was travelling on the A329 Purley Rise, subsequently collided with two cyclists, who both died at the scene,” he said.

“Specialist officers are currently in the process of informing and supporting their next of kin.”

He said the car driver was injured and taken to hospital in Reading.

A local resident said he saw a big flash of light and when he looked out, he saw two bodies lying on the ground outside his house.

He added: “The car rolled over and ended up outside the house and someone was being cut out of it. I didn’t do anything as the police were already here.”

A bent signpost and two traffic bollards could be seen at the side of the road where the accident happened, with displaced earth underneath it.

A bicycle seat and other debris could be seen in bushes to the side of the road, which has a 30mph speed limit.

Bill Ayling, a long-serving councillor, said he was “absolutely shocked”.

“ I know the road very well. It is well lit at night and it’s up on a hill,” he said.

Parish council chairman Rick Jones said locals were in “shock”.

“It’s a shock. It’s a very quiet village normally,” he said.

PA