M25: Two dead as crash follows Hertfordshire police pursuit

The crash took place prior to 4am on Sunday, February 4 when Hertfordshire Constabulary were in pursuit of a Citroen Dispatch van on the M1.

The police pursuit was stood down due to safety concerns, before a second pursuit began on Breakspear Way.

This was also abandoned, with the van later seen by a police officer travelling on the wrong side of the M25.

The officer followed the van on the correct side of the road but did not activate the vehicle’s lights or sirens.

The van later crashed with three other vehicles between junctions 21a and 22 (Watford and St Albans). 

Motorists were advised to avoid the stretch, as the M25 was closed from junction 22 to junction 25 from 4am to about 10pm on Sunday.

Following the collision, Hertfordshire police confirmed that a man and a woman had sadly passed away, and that a man in his 20s was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.

The M25, between St Albans and Watford. (Image: Google Maps)

The incident has also been referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), and a criminal investigation by Essex Police is underway.

IOPC investigators have since been sent to the scene to gather information, with the investigation "in the very early stages".

A spokesperson for Hertfordshire Constabulary said: “Officers were in pursuit of a van before the van was involved in a collision with three other vehicles.

“No police vehicles were involved in the collision and the pursuit had been stood down prior to the collision.

“A woman has sadly passed away and her family are being supported by specially trained officers.

“As a matter of course, the incident has been referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct.”

The spokesperson later added: "We can now confirm that a man also sadly died in the collision.

"His family are being supported by specially trained officers.

"A man in his 20s has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving."

An IOPC spokesperson commented: “We are investigating police actions prior to a fatal road traffic collision on the M25.

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"No police vehicles were involved in the collision and the pursuit had been stood down prior to the collision.

"We sent our investigators to the scene and to the post incident procedure to begin the process of gathering information.

"Our investigation is in the very early stages."