AN INQUEST has been opened into the death of a man who died in a collision following a high-speed police chase.
Steven Bellerby, 25, of Barwick Street, Easington Colliery, died after the Vauxhall Corsa in which he was a passenger was involved in an horrific smash as it left the M1 near Chesterfield, Derbyshire, in the early hours of Sunday.
The vehicle, car
rying three people, was involved in a chase with two Derbyshire Police cars.
The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) has concluded "there is no evidence to suggest the actions of either police driver were in any way accountable for the tragic outcome of this incident".
The IPCC says the driver of the main police pursuit vehicle initially approached the Corsa having spotted it parked on the hard shoulder between junctions 28 and 29 with hazard lights flashing.
They say the front seat passenger of the Corsa spoke with the police officer. But the Corsa driver then sped away before the officer had the opportunity to speak with the other occupants of the car.
The IPCC says the chase reached speeds of up to 100 mph and the Corsa lost control while trying to exit the M1 northbound motorway at a junction 29a.
The Corsa left the road and span into a drainage ditch, where it hit a drain cover launching it into the air.
The car travelled 90ft before landing on its roof on a fence post.
A 26-year-old man from Peterlee and a 31-year-old man from Southampton are in police custody on suspicion of theft of a vehicle and failing to stop.
North Derbyshire Coroner Catherine Mason adjourned the inquest.
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