TWO people were taken to hospital after a moped being pursued by police crashed in Downend today.
A main road linking Downend and Fishponds was shut for several hours after the collision, which is the subject of a police conduct investigation because of officers’ involvement in the lead-up to the incident.
An Avon & Somerset police spokesperson said the collision happened at 12.43pm, at the double mini-roundabout junction of Overndale Road, Croomes Hill and Frenchay Road.
Road closures were still in place into the evening, as an investigation of the scene took place.
The spokesperson said: “The rider and a pillion passenger have been taken to hospital.
“We are awaiting a full injury update, but the initial assessment was that neither were believed to have sustained life-threatening injuries.
“We can confirm that a pursuit of the moped by police was taking place at the time. That pursuit begun a short distance away at approximately 12.38pm.
“Our Professional Standards Department has been notified of the incident as per protocol.”
No more details of the bike’s rider and passenger have been revealed, and no reason given why the police were chasing the moped, which appeared to have collided with a Toyota car at the Croomes Hill/Overndale Road section of the junction.
Overndale Road was closed at the Cleeve Hill traffic lights, and Croomes Hill and Frenchay Road were also closed to cars and pedestrians at the approach to the junction, where debris from the bike could be seen on the road.
A large number of police vehicles blocked the road to traffic, with several unmarked cars on Overndale Road.
Serious collisions with police involvement are routinely referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct, although the IOPC refers the majority of them back to the force involved for internal investigation, rather than holding an independent inquiry.
Top picture: Police cordon at the approach to the crash scene from Croomes Hill. Photos: Downend Voice/Fishponds Voice