The pursuit came to a sudden stop at a pedestrian crossing
The moment a man runs to safety while crossing as the van approaches during a pursuit(Image: GMP)
Racing at dangerous speeds, failing to hit the brakes at red traffic lights and forcing a pedestrian to run for safety – this was the reckless moment the driver of a stolen van tried to evade police.
The vehicle reached speeds of up to 100mph during a pursuit through Bolton, Wigan and Chorley on Wednesday (August 14). At one point, the van could be seen clipping a roundabout and narrowly avoiding a car.
The driver’s luck finally ran out when the van mounted a pedestrian crossing and hit a stationary car. Greater Manchester Police says it received a 999 call at 6.23pm on Wednesday about a van containing parcels worth around £1,000 being stolen in Bolton.
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With the support of the caller, officers located the van within 15 minutes, but the driver made off from police at speed. Specialist GMP Transport Unit officers began to pursue the vehicle, with a chase lasting 40 minutes and crossing into Lancashire.
GMP says that at times in the pursuit, the van reached speeds exceeding triple the speed limit and damaged multiple pieces of street furniture. A cyclist was also injured by the van, though thankfully their injuries were not serious, according to police.
Police chase stolen vehicle at 100mph through Greater Manchester and Lancashire
Officers detained the driver following the crash at the pedestrian crossing. A 25-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of theft of a motor vehicle, dangerous driving, failure to stop, driving under the influence of a controlled substance, and possession of Class A and C drugs. He has since been bailed pending further enquiries.
PC Nat Mannyng, from GMP’s Transport Unit, said: “This was an extremely dangerous incident which saw a vehicle reaching speeds of 100mph through residential streets where families, pedestrians and other road users were going about their daily lives. The driver showed a complete disregard for public safety and innocent members of the public were harmed as a result of his actions.
“Thankfully, there were only minor physical injuries, but his behaviour could have resulted in a serious collision. Our officers are trained to continually assess the risks involved in any pursuit, and the decision-making throughout this incident was focused on protecting the public and ensuring the situation was brought to a safe conclusion.
“We will continue to take robust action against those who choose to put lives at risk on our roads, and we hope this outcome sends a clear message that these offences will not be tolerated.”