4:31pm Friday 13th February 2009
POLICE have confirmed that a 21-year-old driver involved in a police chase in Beckenham yesterday (February 12) has died.
Jack Bowers, from Eltham, crashed the car he was driving in The Avenue, Beckenham, at around 1.20am yesterday morning (February 12).
An unmarked police car was pursuing the vehicle at the time after it had failed to stop for officers.
Firefighters spent 40 minutes cutting Mr Bowers out of the car and he was taken to Lewisham Hospital with serious head injuries and in a critical condition.
But police have said that Mr Bowers died after doctors turned off his life support machine this afternoon (February 13).
Residents have described hearing a “god-almighty crash of screaming tyres, tearing metal and shattering glass” when Mr Bowers' car hit several parked vehicles.
Police had earlier tried to stop the car in nearby Copers Cope Road.
A police spokesman said: "The driver of the car pulled away at speed and officers followed the car.
"The officers lost sight of the car before locating it again about two minutes later, after it had collided with six stationary cars before coming to a stop."
The incident is being investigated by the Met police's collision investigation unit based at Catford.
It is being overseen by the Met police's directorate of professional standards.
Anyone with information should call Met police on 020 8785 8738 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
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