UPDATE: Teenage girl killed in police chase

At around 10.20pm a car failed to stop when signalled to pull over by police. Shortly afterwards the silver Volkswagen Golf collided with a property in High Town Road.

The ambulance service was called but the girl was pronounced dead. One man was airlifted to hospital with serious injuries. The family of the deceased and injured are being supported by officer.

The road and nearby streets have been closed as investigations are carried out. The fire service and a structural engineer were called to assist in making the scene safe and those affected by the damage were evacuated as a safety precaution.

Bedfordshire Police has referred the incident that happened in Luton last night (Tuesday), to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC).

The circumstances of the incident have been referred to the IPCC in line with standard protocol.

Anyone who witnessed the incident, or saw the Golf – which has a black bonnet and black roof – prior to the collision, is asked to contact police.

Officers are particularly keen to speak to another person who it is believed may have been travelling in the car at the time of the incident. Call 101 quoting Operation Darwin with information.

One of the shop owners on High Town Road said: “It is a sad accident where a young girl has lost her life.

“We don’t know what has actually happened but the car must have been going at some speed to cause the damage it has to the building.

“I’m surprised Dilips TV is still standing, it defies all logic, it looks like it is going to collapse.

“The road is still closed while the police wait for the car to be recovered.

“I think that went all over Luton last night, I live up near Old Bedford Road on the far end and I saw a police helicopter, the car was chased around Ringwood Road.

“I saw the blue lights and thought it was an ambulance, I came out and a car flew out, the police were following and the helicopter was above it.

“Dilips TV won’t open again, it’s sad and that is a knock on affect of what has happened, he has been here longer than me and I have been here over 20 years.”

A man at the scene, who did not wish to be named, said: “It is horrible, the roof of the building looks like it is going to cave in and collapse.

“No one can believe what has happened. My thoughts are with the young girls family.”

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) has begun an independent investigation, and is appealing for witnesses, following a road traffic incident in Luton in which a teenage girl died.

IPCC Commissioner Carl Gumsley said: “Firstly, my thoughts and sympathies are with the family and friends of the young woman who has died.

“Clearly we are at the very early stages of this investigation; IPCC investigators were deployed to the scene shortly after this incident, attended post incident procedures and have begun to gather information to aid their enquiries.”

This information can also be found on the IPCC website: https://www.ipcc.gov.uk/news/ipcc-investigation-following-fatal-road-traffic-incident-lutonS