Driver dies after car was stopped by police investigating murder | UK News

A man has died from serious head injuries in a car shortly after it was stopped by armed police investigating a murder.

The 46-year-old was being followed by Leicestershire Police on the A52 Bingham bypass, near Nottingham, in the early hours of Thursday morning.

As officers approached the silver Mazda Tamura, the driver was found to have suffered a serious injury to his head and a non-police issue firearm was discovered inside the vehicle.

He was given first aid but was pronounced dead at the scene at around 12.30am.

Leicestershire Police has now made a mandatory referral of the incident to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) and said it will co-operate fully.

Officers had stopped the vehicle in connection with the death of a man who was found in a field in the village of Plungar on Tuesday afternoon.

A man in his 40s was discovered with a suspected head injury in Highgate Lane at around 3.30pm and police are treating his death as suspicious.

An IOPC spokesperson said: ‘Early today we were notified by Leicestershire Police about an incident at around 12.30am on the A52 Bingham bypass in Nottinghamshire where armed officers involved in a murder investigation had followed a man driving a silver coloured Mazda Tamura.

‘We were advised that, after making the vehicle stop, the officers found the 46-year-old driver had a serious head injury and gave immediate first aid.

‘Sadly, he was pronounced dead at the scene. A non-police issue firearm was also discovered in the vehicle. The coroner has been informed.’

The IOPC has declared an independent investigation which will consider the circumstances of the police involvement.

‘Initial accounts have been provided by officers involved and we have also gathered police body worn footage for review,’ the IOPC spokesperson said.

‘Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the man who died, and all those affected by this incident.’

Road closures remain in place on the A52 Bingham bypass, the police said.

Senior investigating officer in the murder investigation, detective inspector David Greenhalgh from the East Midlands special operations unit, said: ‘Our enquiries following the discovery of a man’s body in Plungar remain ongoing as we continue to establish the full circumstances of what has happened.

‘Specialist officers are providing support to the man’s family at this time.

‘We do continue to appeal to anyone who was in the Plungar area on Tuesday afternoon or who has any information in relation to the incident to come forward to us.

‘Did you see anyone go into a field? Did you see or hear anything unusual or which caused you concern?

‘I understand there will be concern in the community and our officers remain in the area offering reassurance as our enquiries continue. Please do speak with them.’

A 56-year-old man from Grantham was arrested on suspicion of murder on Wednesday but has since been released under investigation.

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