The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has named the second victim of a fatal collision in Stratford-upon-Avon as 62-year-old Karen Joseph, who died days after the crash. The incident occurred on August 24 when a black Audi A3, driven by 19-year-old Roman Kalas, collided with a Ford Puma driven by Ms Joseph on Warwick Road. Mr Kalas died at the scene, while Ms Joseph, from Stratford-upon-Avon, was taken to hospital with critical injuries and died on Friday, August 28.
Police pursuit under investigation
The IOPC has launched an independent investigation into the double fatal collision, which involved a Warwickshire Police car that had been pursuing the Audi. The force notified the IOPC of the collision, and investigators attended the scene and the police post-incident procedure the same evening, declaring an independent investigation.
Dashcam footage from the pursuing police car has been obtained and is being reviewed. The IOPC has established that the officer, who was in a single-crewed car, began the pursuit after Mr Kalas failed to stop for police on Birmingham Road. The police vehicle's sirens and emergency lights were activated during the pursuit, which lasted around six minutes before the crash at approximately 5.40pm.
Appeal for footage
IOPC investigators have retraced the route of the pursuit and identified potential CCTV footage. They are appealing for anyone with dashcam or doorbell footage of any part of the pursuit, no matter how brief, to come forward. Inquests into the deaths of Mr Kalas and Ms Joseph are scheduled to open on Friday, September 4.
Ms Joseph's daughter, who was a passenger in the Ford Puma, sustained minor injuries in the incident.
IOPC statement
IOPC Director Derrick Campbell said: “Our deepest sympathies are with the family and friends and everyone affected by the deaths of Roman Kalas and Karen Joseph. We have spoken with both families to advise them of our investigation, and they will be provided with regular updates. They have requested privacy at this difficult time. Given two members of the public have died in an incident involving a police pursuit, it’s important that an independent investigation is carried out to establish the full circumstances.”
Campbell added: “We are examining police dashcam footage, trawling the pursuit route for CCTV footage and appeal to anyone with either doorbell or dashcam footage to contact our investigators on 0300 303 5609 or by email: WarwickRoadPursuit@policeconduct.gov.uk.”
