A 19-year-old man died on Saturday after becoming trapped under a police car in a stream in Whiteabbey, Co Antrim. The Northern Ireland Police Ombudsman, Ms Nuala O'Loan, has been called in to investigate the incident which occurred in the early hours of yesterday morning.
A spokesman said the police vehicle had followed a white Fiat Toledo from Carrickfergus into a wooded area known as the Glen at around 1 a .m.
As they entered the wooded area, four men, including the 19-year-old, got out of the car and ran off. The police followed. It appears the police vehicle then went over a bank into the stream, known as The Three Mile, hitting the teenager.
The body and the police car were later recovered as police, fire and ambulance crews rushed to the scene. Everyone involved in the incident has been identified and will be questioned.
"We will carry out a full, independent and impartial investigation and search for evidence which will tell us exactly what happened," the spokesman said. Detectives are particularly keen to speak to a taxi-driver who saw the white Fiat leave the nearby Fortfield Garage shortly before the accident.
A post-mortem examination will be carried out this afternoon.
- (PA)