LEYTON: High-speed police chase crash

9:53am Friday 24th October 2008

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A CAR smashed into a van during a high-speed police chase.

Three men needed hospital treatment after a black Fiat Punto collided with a white transit van in Lea Bridge Road on the Walthamstow/Leyton border.

The chase began when the driver of the Punto failed to stop when officers signalled for him to pull over in Essex Road, Leyton.

Eye-witness Richard Wood, the manager of Maslen Motors in Lea Bridge Road, said: "It all happened really quickly. I heard brakes screeching and I saw the Fiat trying to turn right into West End Avenue but he was going far too fast and skidded into the van.

"Four men got out. They were staggering a bit. One had blood coming from his head. They dropped two different coloured rucksacks, hesitated for a while, but made sure they picked them up before running off."

Police saw the driver running away from the crashed car and arrested a 16-year-old in a nearby side-street.

He was taken to an east London police station and has been bailed to return on November 26.

Police are refusing to say why he was arrested.

The three passengers ran off but later all went to hospital for treatment.

Police say they have now recovered from their injuries.

None of the men were arrested.

Lea Bridge Road was closed between Grove Road and the Whipps Cross roundabout for four hours after the crash which happened around 1pm on Wednesday (October22).

The van driver was not hurt in the crash.

Police are still investigating and the Directorate of Professional Standards has been informed.