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A teenager has died in a car crash, following a police pursuit in Birmingham.<\/p>\n
The 17-year-old boy was in a vehicle which West Midlands Police said failed to stop for officers before smashing into a tree at about 02:00 GMT on Thursday on Grove Lane, Handsworth.<\/p>\n
Four other teenagers were inside the vehicle and have been taken to hospital, with one believed to have life-threatening injuries. <\/p>\n
West Midlands Police has referred the incident to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), which said pursuing police were in an armed response vehicle, with lights and sirens activated.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
The A4040 Church Lane in Handsworth is shut as police investigate the circumstances of the crash.<\/p>\n
National Express West Midlands has diverted the 11A, 11C and 101 bus services.<\/p>\n
Handsworth Wood councillor Gurdial Singh Atwal said although the facts of the incident remained unknown, the death of the teen was upsetting.<\/p>\n
He said: “We don’t know what exactly happened but it is fair to say it is very sad news a young person has died.”<\/p>\n
An IOPC spokesperson said the watchdog was advised by West Midlands Police that at about 02:15 GMT “officers in an armed response vehicle attempted to stop a vehicle and activated their lights and sirens, before a brief pursuit began”.<\/p>\n
They added: “After being notified by West Midlands Police we began an independent investigation and sent investigators to the collision scene.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n