Boy, 15, arrested after three men killed in horror motorway crash during police chase

14 June 2022, 10:26 | Updated: 14 June 2022, 14:17

A 15-year-old boy has been arrested and three people have died after a suspected stolen van hit a taxi during a police chase in Bradford.

An 18-year-old man in the van was killed, along with the driver of the taxi and his passenger, during the incident on the M606 on Monday night.

Police said a van failed to stop and was then driven the wrong way on the southbound carriageway, where it was involved in a head-on crash with a taxi.

The occupants of the taxi, two men, aged 28 and 49, were pronounced dead at the scene.

An 18-year-old male passenger in the van died in hospital on Tuesday morning.

Another passenger from the van, a 17-year-old boy, is in hospital with serious but not life-threatening injuries.

The 15-year-old driver has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving. He remains in hospital with serious but not life threatening injuries.

West Yorkshire Police referred the incident to the Independent Office for Police Conduct.

The dead taxi driver has been locally named by family and friends as 27-year-old Sohail Ali.

Sohail was reportedly working for Arrival Taxis at the time of the crash, with one friend paying tribute online writing: "Rest in peace Sohail brother one of the most down to earth lads I’ve met and deffo the best taxi driver about."

Another wrote: "Can’t get my head round it, was only talking to your dad about you yesterday. If you knew Sohail you know he was one of the best lads around! Till we meet again brother fly high."

At the time of the crash a West Yorkshire Police spokesperson said: "Emergency services are currently dealing with a serious road traffic collision that has closed the M606 in Bradford.

"A 10.45pm on Monday, a van failed to stop for a marked roads policing unit and was then driven the wrong way on the southbound M606 from Chain Bar roundabout towards Bradford, where it was involved in a head-on collision with a taxi.

"There are five casualties in total from both vehicles, including three who were critically injured. One carriageway is now open.

"West Yorkshire Police has informed the Independent Office for Police Conduct due to the involvement of a police vehicle in the circumstances leading up to the collision."

The Independent Office for Police Conduct added: "We are carrying out an independent investigation into the involvement of West Yorkshire Police (WYP) prior to a road traffic collision on the M606 near the Chain Bar roundabout, Bradford, at around 10.45pm on Monday 13 June.

"We were notified by WYP after the collision and an independent investigation declared at 12.51am today (Tuesday 14 June)."We understand that a Ford Transit van failed to stop for police before it was involved in a collision with a taxi after the van entered the M606 on the wrong side of the carriageway.

"IOPC investigators are attending the scene and the police post-incident procedure. We have begun to gather information and our investigation is at an early stage."

This story is being updated, more follows.