A man has been killed and two women seriously injured following a collision that occurred during a police pursuit close to Stratford-upon-Avon on Monday evening. Officers from Warwickshire Police attempted to stop a black Audi on Birmingham Road at approximately 17:23 BST, but the driver refused to comply with the instruction to pull over. The vehicle then fled, leading to a pursuit that lasted around 15 minutes before the Audi collided with a white Ford Puma being driven by a member of the public.
Paramedics confirmed the Audi's male driver dead at the scene. The woman driving the Ford sustained life-threatening injuries and was transported to hospital, where she remains in critical condition. A female passenger in the Ford was also taken to hospital with serious injuries, though these were not initially assessed as life-threatening. A mandatory referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has been made because a fatality occurred following police contact, and an independent investigation is now underway.
The A439 Warwick Road, where the collision took place, has been closed from the Marraway roundabout to its junction with Ingon Lane and Sand Barn Lane. Warwickshire Police indicated the road would remain shut for an extended period, and drivers have been instructed to seek alternative routes.
How the pursuit unfolded
When the Audi's driver failed to stop on Birmingham Road, officers initiated a pursuit. The vehicle travelled in the direction of the A46 before turning back towards Stratford along the A439 Warwick Road, where the fatal collision with the Ford Puma occurred at approximately 17:44 BST. During the pursuit, a number of other vehicles sustained damage, according to police.
According to regional reporting, the entire sequence from the initial failed stop to the collision lasted approximately 21 minutes, with the pursuit itself spanning around 15 minutes before impact.
Emergency response and casualties
West Midlands Ambulance Service attended the scene and found four patients requiring treatment. A spokesperson for the service described the response:
Despite their best efforts, it became clear that nothing more could be done to save him and he was confirmed deceased by ambulance staff at the scene.
The woman driving the Ford Puma, identified by the IOPC as being in her 70s, suffered life-threatening injuries and was conveyed to hospital. Her female passenger was also transported to hospital with serious injuries. A fourth patient from one of the vehicles involved sustained injuries not believed to be serious.
Police watchdog investigation
Superintendent Steve Flavell of Warwickshire Police stated:
Our thoughts are with the families of everyone involved in this collision and we're providing specialist support to them at this extremely difficult time.
We made a mandatory referral to the IOPC because a death had occurred following police contact. They have declared an independent investigation and we will co-operate fully with their investigation.
The IOPC confirmed that its investigation was in its early stages and that officials had attended the police's post-incident operation to gather information. A spokesperson for the watchdog explained:
We understand the driver of a black Audi A3 failed to stop for police and was then pursued for around six minutes before the vehicle was involved in a collision with a car being driven by a member of the public.
According to the IOPC, such investigations are mandatory whenever a death occurs following police contact, ensuring independent scrutiny of the circumstances leading to the fatal outcome.
Road safety improvements in the area
The section of the A439 Warwick Road where the collision occurred had been the subject of safety improvements two years prior. Warwickshire County Council had implemented a one-way system, reduced the speed limit, and created a protected turning lane at the Ingon Lane junction. Street lighting was also enhanced to improve visibility for pedestrians crossing at Fisherman's Car Park. Despite these measures, the fatal collision has prompted renewed focus on road safety in the area.
Context of fatal police-related collisions
This incident is part of a broader pattern of fatal collisions involving police contact that have occurred across the United Kingdom in recent weeks. In late August, multiple people died in a collision involving a police vehicle on the A66 near Middlesbrough, with the IOPC launching an investigation following a mandatory referral from Cleveland Police. These incidents have highlighted the complexities and risks associated with police pursuits and the importance of independent oversight.
What happens next
The IOPC's independent investigation will continue as evidence is gathered and the scene is fully examined. Warwickshire Police has committed to full cooperation with the watchdog's inquiry. The A439 Warwick Road remained closed on the morning of 25 August, with police still present at the scene, and further updates are expected as the investigation progresses and the road reopens.
Key Facts:
- A man died and two women were seriously injured in a collision on the A439 Warwick Road near Stratford-upon-Avon on 25 August 2026
- The crash followed a police pursuit of a black Audi that lasted approximately 15 minutes after the driver failed to stop on Birmingham Road
- The Independent Office for Police Conduct has launched an independent investigation following a mandatory referral from Warwickshire Police
- The A439 Warwick Road was closed from the Marraway roundabout to Ingon Lane and Sand Barn Lane, with drivers advised to use alternative routes
- Road safety improvements, including a one-way system and reduced speed limit, had been implemented on this section of road two years earlier
