A CRASH, following a police chase, which left a Welwyn Garden City worker’s teenage son dead, is being investigated by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC).

James Clennell, 16, of Benington, whose mother Natalie is a finance chief for the NHS, based in Parkway, WGC, died in the early hours of last Monday morning (June 20) after the Citroen Saxo he was travelling in overturned striking a set of traffic lights, before hitting a brick wall and writing off a delivery vehicle.

He was later pronounced dead in Lister Hospital, Stevenage, after being treated by paramedics at the scene.

Initial police reports claim the Saxo, and another vehicle, were performing u-turns on the A505 and a chase ensued when the driver sped away after being signalled to stop by a marked patrol car at around 1am.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission is now probing the incident.

“As the Saxo was being pursued by a police car prior to the collision Hertfordshire Police referred the incident to the IPCC,” said an IPCC spokesman.

“Investigators were deployed to the scene to begin collecting evidence and an independent investigation has now started.”

He added: “At this stage it is not believed the police car came into physical contact with the Saxo during the pursuit.”

Three teenagers have been arrested and bailed until August 1 in relation to the incident.

Hertfordshire Constabulary is conducting a parallel investigation into the incident.