A 29-year-old man died today after he was hit by a police Land Rover responding to an emergency call in west Belfast.
The pedestrian, who has been named as Jim McMenamin, was struck by the car on Upper Springfield Road, shortly after 1am this morning.
Police officers administered first aid to Mr McMenamin, who lived in the area, but he died at the scene. The incident has been referred to the Police Ombudsman, and a team was at the scene of the accident shortly after it happened.
"We have forensic scientists and scenes of crime officers at the location," a spokesman for the Ombudsman said. "The area has been videoed and photographed and any exhibits have been removed. "The police vehicle has also been removed for further forensic analysis.
"We have spoken to the the police officers who were in the Land Rover and have appointed a Family Liaison Officer to support the man's family who are very upset at what has happened," the spokesman said.
The Ombudsman's office has asked anyone with information about what happened, or about Mr McMenamin's movements earlier in the night, to contact them on 028 9082 8627. SDLP councillor for the area, Tim Attwood, said the death was a "terrible tragedy" and urged the Ombudsman to conduct the enquiry speedily and publish its full conclusions.
"All sympathy must go to the family of the young man killed. "The Police Ombudsman has full responsibility for investigating this fatal accident and the independence of her office can guarantee a full inquiry into the circumstances of death." he said.