Tragic Crash After Police Chase Kills Woman and Boy in Beckenham
A black Ford Focus being chased by police ploughed into pedestrians on Lennard Road this afternoon, killing two and injuring three.
Victims Identified: Woman and Nephew Dead
The fatal crash at around 2:05pm on Wednesday 31 August claimed the lives of 36-year-old Rosie Cooper and her 10-year-old nephew, Makayah McDermott.
Three girls were hospitalised after the vehicle mounted the pavement. Among them are 13-year-old twin sisters with minor injuries, and a seriously injured girl, believed to be the 7-year-old daughter of Rosie Cooper.
Police Chase Ends in Havoc
Officers had been chasing the Ford since around 2pm near Birkbeck Road, Beckenham. Emergency crews, including London’s Air Ambulance, rushed to the scene near Parish Lane.
The Ford’s 23-year-old driver fled on foot but was caught after a member of the public pointed police to his hiding spot behind a bush. He remains in custody at a south London police station.
Investigations Underway
The Directorate of Professional Standards and the Independent Police Complaints Commission have been notified and spent much of the afternoon probing the incident alongside local police.
