Woman and two children injured as police chase leads to two-car fireball crash

A police chase in Wolverhampton, which lead to a two-car fireball that seriously injured a woman and two young girls, is being investigated by the Professional Standards Department

A multi-vehicle crash involving a BMW and WV Golf, which was being chased by police, left a woman and two children injured after the collision left the trio "engulfed in flames".

The inferno broke out after the collision between the vehicles, believed to also include a third van, underneath a railway bridge in Wolverhampton on Saturday. As a result, there was a major disruption for passengers using the overhead service with the flames reaching the tracks above and all lines blocked between the town and Birmingham New Street. Cables and rail equipment were thought to be damaged by the blaze, meaning trains were cancelled, delayed or diverted.

A police pursuit involving the WV Golf was underway in the moments before the crash after it failed to stop for officers. After emergency services were called to the scene, a man was arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving and failing to stop. He was taken to hospital, as well as the woman and young children, and will be spoken to by officers in "due course".

A West Midlands Police spokesman said: "The Golf had earlier been pursued after failing to stop for officers. A man has been arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving and failing to stop. He has been taken to hospital for treatment and will be spoken to in due course.

"The collision led to a fire and officers managed to help the occupants of the BMW from their vehicle. A woman and two young children have been taken to hospital for further assessment although their injuries are not believed to be life-threatening."

Because the crash involved a police vehicle involved in a chase, it has been referred to the Professional Standards Department (PSD) which will investigate the incident. This is "standard procedure for the circumstances," Birmingham Live reports.

Anyone with information about what happened is asked to get in touch with officers by calling 101, or via Live Chat on the West Midlands Police website, quoting log 1583 of 12 October.

Bilston White Watch later took to social media to share an image of the fireball crash. They warned drivers to be "mindful" of their driving and road conditions. They said: "Bilston White Watch attended an RTC involving 2 cars and a van this afternoon. Both cars had been fully engulfed in fire. A reminder to the public to be mindful of their driving and the road conditions."